EPICRANIUS Meaning and
Definition
-
Epicranius refers to a broad, flat muscle that covers the upper part of the cranium or skull in humans. It is also known as the occipitofrontalis muscle, which plays a significant role in facial expressions, specifically those related to the movement of the eyebrows and forehead. The term "epicranius" is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "epi," meaning "upon" or "above," and "cranium," which refers to the skull.
The epicranius muscle consists of two main parts: the frontalis muscle and the occipitalis muscle. The frontalis muscle is located on the front of the cranium and connects from the eyebrows to the top of the head. It allows for the wrinkling of the forehead and the raising of the eyebrows, contributing to expressions of surprise or concern. The occipitalis muscle is situated at the back of the cranium and runs from the base of the skull to the aponeurosis, a fibrous tissue sheet connecting the frontal and occipital bellies of the muscle. Its primary function is to retract the scalp, pulling it back after contraction of the frontalis muscle.
The epicranius muscle is innervated by the facial nerve, also known as cranial nerve VII, which sends signals from the brain to the muscle fibers, allowing for voluntary movement. In combination with other facial muscles, the epicranius muscle aids in non-verbal communication by contributing to various facial expressions such as raising the eyebrows in surprise, creating forehead wrinkles in expressions of concern, or even frowning and scowling.
-
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for EPICRANIUS
- wpicranius
- spicranius
- dpicranius
- rpicranius
- 4picranius
- 3picranius
- eoicranius
- elicranius
- e-icranius
- e0icranius
- epucranius
- epjcranius
- epkcranius
- epocranius
- ep9cranius
- ep8cranius
- epixranius
- epivranius
- epifranius
- epidranius
Etymology of EPICRANIUS
The word "epicranius" derives from the Greek roots "epi" and "kranion".
- "Epi" (επί) means "on" or "upon" in Greek.
- "Kranion" (κρανίον) refers to the "skull" in Greek.
Therefore, when these two roots are combined, "epicranius" literally means "upon the skull" or "on the skull". It is used to describe a muscle located on top of the skull, which is also known as the occipitofrontalis muscle.
