Glabella

Glabella
Glabella
	Frontal bone, outer surface, (glabella visible near bottom of bone)
	Side view of head, showing surface relations of bones (glabella labeled at center left)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	glabella
TA98	A02.1.03.006
TA2	525
FMA	52851
	Anatomical terms of bone [ edit on Wikidata]

Last updated June 01, 2025

The glabella, in humans, is the area of skin between the eyebrows and above the nose. The term also refers to the underlying bone that is slightly depressed, and joins the two brow ridges. It is a cephalometric landmark that is just superior to the nasion.^[1]

Etymology

The term for the area is derived from the Latin glaber , "smooth", feminine of glabellus, "hairless".^[2]

Function

The glabella is a key anatomical landmark used in craniofacial measurements, including interglabellar distance, which helps assess facial proportions in aesthetics and surgery. It also contributes to facial expressions through the action of muscles like the frontalis and orbicularis oculi.^[3]

In medical science

The skin of the glabella may be used to measure skin turgor in suspected cases of dehydration by gently pinching and lifting it. When released, the glabella of a dehydrated patient tends to remain extended ("tented"), rather than returning to its normal shape.^[4]

References

↑ "Figure 3. Cephalometric landmarks. Glabella (GL), the most prominent or..." ResearchGate. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
↑ "glabella". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary . Merriam-Webster.
↑ Walker & Chauhan 2023.
↑ Lane., Lilley, Linda (2016-08-05). Pharmacology for Canadian health care practice. Lilley, Linda Lane, Snyder, Julie S., Swart, Beth, 1948-, Collins, Shelly Rainforth., Savoca, Diane. (Third Canadian ed.). Toronto. p. 511. ISBN 9781771720663. OCLC 981956602.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Sources

Walker, Hannah M.; Chauhan, Pradip R. (2023-07-24). "Anatomy, Head and Neck: Glabella". StatPearls Publishing. PMID 32310453 . Retrieved 2025-06-01.

External links

Media related to Glabella (anatomy) at Wikimedia Commons

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[1] "Figure 3. Cephalometric landmarks. Glabella (GL), the most prominent or..." ResearchGate. Retrieved 2018-01-23.

[2] "glabella". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary . Merriam-Webster.

[FOOTNOTEWalkerChauhan2023-3] Walker & Chauhan 2023.

[4] Lane., Lilley, Linda (2016-08-05). Pharmacology for Canadian health care practice. Lilley, Linda Lane, Snyder, Julie S., Swart, Beth, 1948-, Collins, Shelly Rainforth., Savoca, Diane. (Third Canadian ed.). Toronto. p. 511. ISBN 9781771720663. OCLC 981956602.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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