Head and Neck Anatomy: Part II – Musculature
Occipitofrontalis

The occipitofrontalis is also know by the name epicranius. Both names are descriptive of the muscle which is actually two muscles joined by a band of connective tissue, the epicranial aponeurosis, that extends over the cranium. The occipitalis portion of the muscle originates at the superior nuchal line of the occipital bone and the mastoid process of the temporal bone. It inserts into the epicranial aponeurosis that traverses the skull cap and then acts as the origin of the frontalis portion which then inserts into the skin above the orbits. Contracting this muscle elevates the skin of the forehead causing the forehead to wrinkle and the eyebrows to raise.