Juan Manuel Hernández Catalán ; Agustina Arevalo Andreoli & Juan Agustin Cabrera Frola

The objective of this study was to characterize key anatomical aspects of the supraorbital nerve (SON) and supratrochlear nerve (STN), including their emergence patterns, relationship with the corrugator muscle, and topographic variables, aiming to provide useful references for clinical and surgical procedures in the fronto-orbital region. A descriptive study was conducted on 20 formalin-fixed adult cadaveric hemifaces. The SON and STN were dissected, and data were collected on their emergence patterns, number of terminal branches, relationship with the corrugator supercilii muscle, and foramen diameter (when present). Additionally, 20 dry skulls were analyzed to identify the emergence pattern of the SON and measure its distance from vertical and horizontal lines based on the nasion. The SON emerged through a notch in 55 %, through a foramen in 30 %, and exhibited anatomical variants in 15 % of cases. For the STN, notches predominated (72.20 %). The most frequent pathway was above the corrugator supercilii muscle for the SON and through the muscle for the STN. The SON had an average of 3–4 branches per side, and the STN, 2 branches. In dry skulls, the SON was located 7 mm from the vertical line and 26 mm from the horizontal line. The findings highlight relevant anatomical variability and provide useful references for surgical and anesthetic procedures in an understudied population.

KEY WORDS: Supraorbital Nerve; Supratrochlear Nerve; Cadaver; Anatomy.

HERNÁNDEZ, C. J. M.; AREVALO, A. A. & CABRERA, F. J. A. Cadaveric anatomical study of the supraorbital and supratrochlear nerve. Int. J. Morphol., 43(5):1612-1618, 2025.