The forehead (from Latin frons, forehead) is the upper part of the face, located between the hairline and the eyebrows, and between the two temples.

The front. The forehead is formed by the frontal bone, a flat bone of the cranial box (1).

• Structure of the frontal bone. It is divided into two parts:

  – Upper vertical or frontal part which participates in particular in the cranial vault.

  – Lower horizontal or orbito-nasal part which forms the upper part of the orbital cavities (or eyes) and nasal cavities.

• Joints of the frontal bone. Median bone, it articulates with several cranial bones such as nasal, zygomatic, lacrimal, parietal, ethmoid, sphenoid and maxillary bones.

Muscle occipito-frontal. Flat and thin, it covers the cranial vault and ends at the level of the eyebrows. It is extended in particular by the muscles of the nose and eyes.

Vascularization. The frontal artery is a branch of the ophthalmic artery, itself connected to the internal carotid artery.

Innervation. The frontal nerve is one of the branches of the ophthalmic nerve, itself derived from the trigeminal nerve.

Frontal sinuses. The frontal bone has two cavities in its anterior part: the frontal sinuses separated by a thin septum and connected to the nasal cavities (2).

Protective role. Its position ensures in particular the protection of the brain and orbital cavities.

Driving role. The frontal nerve and the frontal muscle are particularly involved in the movements of the eyebrows.

Frontal sinus fracture. In severe shocks, the frontal sinuses are exposed to trauma and fractures.

Headache (headache). A frequent symptom in adults and children, it manifests as pain in the forehead. There are many causes of a headache. A doctor can be consulted in case of sharp and sudden pain.

• Migraine. Particular form of headache, It often begins with a very localized pain and is manifested by seizures.
• Facial neuralgia. Also called trigeminal neuralgia, it corresponds to the irritation of the trigeminal nerve, which has its origin in the frontal nerve. It is manifested by sharp pain on one side of the face (3).
• Sinusitis: It is the inflammation of the mucous membranes covering the inside of the sinuses. The mucus produced is no longer evacuated towards the nose and obstructs the sinuses. It is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection.

Medical treatment. Depending on the causes of the pain, painkillers, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antihistamines may be prescribed.

Phytotherapy. Certain products or supplements can be used to prevent certain infections or relieve inflammatory symptoms.

Surgical treatment. Neurosurgery may be done in some cases of facial neuralgia. Surgery may also be performed for fractures of the frontal sinus.

Physical examination. The causes of forehead pain can be diagnosed by simple clinical examination.

Imaging exams. In some cases, additional tests may be performed, such as a brain scan or MRI.

Third eye symbolism. Some religions and traditions symbolically place a third eye on the forehead between the eyebrows. The philosopher René Descartes attributed this third eye to the pineal gland, located between the two hemispheres of the brain, as the seat of the soul (4) (5).