How Do You Spell SUPRAORBITAL NOTCH?

1. The supraorbital notch, also known as the supraorbital foramen or supraorbital groove, is a distinctive anatomical feature located on the superior aspect of the human skull. It is a bony opening or depression found just above the orbit (eye socket) and below the eyebrow ridge. The term "supraorbital" derives from the Latin words "supra" meaning above, and "orbita" meaning orbit.

   This notch serves as a passageway for the supraorbital nerve, artery, and vein, which provide sensory innervation to the forehead, upper eyelid, and scalp. It is typically present bilaterally on both sides of the skull, corresponding to each eye. The size, shape, and depth of the supraorbital notch may vary among individuals.

   In anthropology, the presence or absence of the supraorbital notch can be used as a distinguishing characteristic to differentiate between different ancestral groups or populations. The supraorbital notch is more commonly present in individuals of African and Asian descent, while it is less common or absent in individuals of European and Indigenous American descent.

   Furthermore, understanding the supraorbital notch and its variation can be valuable in forensic investigations and anatomical studies. Its significance lies in its important role as a passageway for neural and vascular structures in the head, as well as its potential implications in racial identification and ancestry determination.

2. Incisura supraorbitalis.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for SUPRAORBITAL NOTCH

The word "supraorbital" comes from Latin, where "supra" means "above" and "orbital" refers to the orbit, which is the bony cavity in the skull where the eye is located. In anatomy, "supraorbital" is used to describe something located above the orbit.

The word "notch" also comes from Latin, specifically from the word "nothus" meaning "false" or "illegitimate". Over time, "nothus" evolved into "notch" in English, which generally refers to a narrow indentation, incision, or cut.

Therefore, the term "supraorbital notch" signifies a small indentation or opening located above the orbit of the eye. In anatomy, the supraorbital notch is a feature of the frontal bone of the skull, where a nerve called the supraorbital nerve passes through.