Bony Glabella: the Point Between the Eyebrows on the Skull
Quick facts
- Definition
- The most prominent point of the frontal bone on the midline, between the eyebrows.
- Use
- A cephalometric and profile reference, used in analyses of facial projection.
- Difference from the Glabella area
- The area is the soft tissue region with the corrugators and procerus; the point is a landmark on bone.
- Relation to the nasion
- The nasion sits just below, at the suture between the frontal bone and the nasal bones.
The word glabella has two uses that coexist in the same area. In anthropometry and cephalometry, glabella is a point on the bone. In HOF, glabella is the soft tissue region between the eyebrows. Anyone reading "glabella" needs to know which of the two is meant.
What is the bony glabella?
It is the most forward point of the face on the midline of the frontal bone, at eyebrow level, just above the root of the nose. It is used as a landmark to analyze profile and projection, along with points such as the nasion. In men it tends to be more pronounced, and this affects how the gaze reads.
And the Glabella area in HOF?
It is the region where the corrugator and the procerus act, forming the vertical lines between the eyebrows. Because it is an area of vascular risk, it gets its own attention, described in glabellar vascular occlusion.
| Term | Type | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Bony glabella | Bone point | Frontal bone, midline |
| Glabella (area) | Soft tissue region | Between the eyebrows |
Frequently asked questions
Are the bony glabella and the glabella in facial harmonization the same thing?
No. The bony glabella is a point on the frontal bone used as a measurement reference. The glabella treated in HOF is the region of skin and muscles between the eyebrows, where expression lines form.