Dominic Stone
The scalp consists of five layers, including the skin, subcutaneous tissue, Occipitofrontalis and its aponeurosis, subaponeurotic areolar tissue, and pericranium. The Occipitofrontalis (Epicranius) is a broad, musculofibrous layer which covers the top of the skull, from the nuchal lines to the eyebrows. It consists of four bellies – two occipital and two frontal – connected by an intervening aponeurosis, termed the epicranial aponeurosis (galea aponeurotica).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of layers | 5 |
| First layer | Skin |
| Second layer | Subcutaneous tissue |
| Third layer | Occipitofrontalis and its aponeurosis |
| Fourth layer | Subaponeurotic areolar tissue |
| Fifth layer | Pericranium |
| Superficial fascia | A firm, fibro-fatty layer |
| Occipitofrontalis (Epicranius) | A broad, musculofibrous layer which covers the top of the skull, from the nuchal lines to the eyebrows |
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What You'll Learn
The superficial fascia in the scalp
The scalp consists of five layers: the skin, subcutaneous tissue, Occipitofrontalis and its aponeurosis, subaponeurotic areolar tissue, and pericranium. The superficial fascia in the scalp is a firm, fibro-fatty layer, closely adherent to the skin and the Occipitofrontalis and its aponeurosis. Behind, it is continuous with the superficial fascia at the back of the neck; laterally, it is prolonged into the temporal region, where it is looser in texture.
The Occipitofrontalis (Epicranius) is a broad, musculofibrous layer which covers the top of the skull, from the nuchal lines to the eyebrows. It consists of four bellies—two occipital and two frontal—connected by an intervening aponeurosis, termed the epicranial aponeurosis (galea aponeurotica). Each occipital belly, thin and quadrilateral in form, arises by tendinous fibres from the lateral two-thirds of the highest nuchal line of the occipital bone, and from the mastoid part of the temporal bone.
From a surgical standpoint, the first three layers of the scalp (the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and Occipitofrontalis) are often regarded as a single layer, as they are intimately united and remain firmly connected even when torn off in an accident or turned down as a flap in a surgical operation. This dense character of the subcutaneous tissue also helps to minimise swelling due to inflammation.
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The Occipitofrontalis (Epicranius)
The scalp does have muscles. The Occipitofrontalis (Epicranius) is a broad, musculofibrous layer which covers the top of the skull, from the nuchal lines to the eyebrows. It consists of four bellies: two occipital and two frontal, connected by an intervening aponeurosis, termed the epicranial aponeurosis (galea aponeurotica). Each occipital belly, thin and quadrilateral in form, arises by tendinous fibres from the lateral two-thirds of the highest nuchal line of the occipital bone, and from the mastoid part of the temporal bone. The superficial fascia in the scalp is a firm, fibro-fatty layer, intimately adherent to the skin, and to the Occipitofrontalis and its aponeurosis. From a surgical standpoint, it is better to regard the first three layers of the scalp as a single layer, since they are all intimately united.
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The skin
The superficial fascia in the scalp is a firm, fibro-fatty layer that is attached to the skin and the Occipitofrontalis. The Occipitofrontalis (Epicranius) is a broad, musculofibrous layer that covers the top of the skull, from the nuchal lines to the eyebrows. It consists of four bellies—two occipital and two frontal—which are connected by an intervening aponeurosis, known as the epicranial aponeurosis (galea aponeurotica).
Each occipital belly has a thin, quadrilateral form and arises from the lateral two-thirds of the highest nuchal line of the occipital bone and the mastoid part of the temporal bone. The superficial fascia is continuous with the fascia at the back of the neck and extends into the temporal region, where it has a looser texture.
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Subcutaneous tissue
The scalp consists of five layers: the skin, subcutaneous tissue, Occipitofrontalis and its aponeurosis, subaponeurotic areolar tissue, and pericranium. The subcutaneous tissue is a firm, fibro-fatty layer that is closely attached to the skin and the Occipitofrontalis and its aponeurosis. It is continuous with the superficial fascia at the back of the neck and extends into the temporal region, where it is looser in texture. The subcutaneous tissue is dense, which helps to minimise swelling from inflammation and prevents wounds from gaping. The Occipitofrontalis (Epicranius) is a broad, musculofibrous layer covering the top of the skull, from the nuchal lines to the eyebrows. It consists of four bellies—two occipital and two frontal—connected by an intervening aponeurosis, known as the epicranial aponeurosis (galea aponeurotica). Each occipital belly has a thin, quadrilateral shape and arises from the lateral two-thirds of the highest nuchal line of the occipital bone and the mastoid part of the temporal bone.
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Subaponeurotic areolar tissue
The scalp consists of five layers: the skin, subcutaneous tissue, Occipitofrontalis and its aponeurosis, subaponeurotic areolar tissue, and pericranium. The subaponeurotic areolar tissue is a loose, pliable tissue that connects the epicranial aponeurosis to the pericranium. This tissue allows the superficial three layers of the scalp to move over the pericranium. It also provides a potential subaponeurotic space that allows fluids and blood to pass from the scalp to the upper eyelids. The loose areolar tissue facilitates dissection due to its pliability and lack of dense vascular structures, although care must be taken to avoid damaging emissary veins. The emissary veins connect the scalp veins to the diploic veins and intracranial venous sinuses. These valveless veins are a potential route for infections to spread from the scalp to the intracranial veins, making this layer a "danger zone" for intracranial complications such as meningitis or brain abscesses.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the scalp has muscles.
The muscles of the scalp are the Occipitofrontalis (Epicranius) and its aponeurosis, the epicranial aponeurosis (galea aponeurotica).
The scalp consists of five layers: the skin, subcutaneous tissue, Occipitofrontalis and its aponeurosis, subaponeurotic areolar tissue, and pericranium.
