occipitofrontaln.adj.
/ɒkˌsɪpɪtəʊˈfrʌntl/, U.S. /ɑkˌsɪpᵻdoʊˈfrən(t)l/ Chiefly Anatomy and Obstetrics.
A. n.† 1. The occipitofrontalis muscle. Obsolete.
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the world > life > the body > structural parts > muscle > muscles of specific parts > [noun] > occipital muscle
occipital muscle1801
epicranium1807
occipitofrontal1811
occipital1890
1811 R. Hooper Quincy's Lexicon-medicum (new ed.) Occipito-frontalis,..Occipito-frontal of Dumas.
1872 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 162 129 In the Eleutherura this muscle and the occipito-frontal are even more closely connected.
1875–8 Johnson's New Univ. Cycl. 1456/2 It has been successfully treated by tacking the orbicular muscle to the occipito-frontal.
2. Obstetrics. The occipitofrontal diameter of the skull (see sense B. 1).
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1831 C. D. Meigs tr. A. A. L. M. Velpeau Elem. Treat. Midwifery iv. ii. 201 The occipito-frontal, about four inches long, which extends from the occipital protuberance to the forehead.
1857 W. R. Bullock tr. P. Cazeaux Theoret. & Pract. Treat. Midwifery (ed. 2) 220 The occipito-frontal extends from the occipital protuberance to the frontal boss.
1971 Williams' Obstetr. (ed. 14) vii. 204 The diameters most frequently used and their average lengths are: (1) the occipitofrontal (11.75 cm) [etc.].
B. adj.
1. Of or relating to the occipital and frontal bones of the skull, or the occipital and frontal lobes of the brain; spec. designating a diameter or circumference of the skull measured between the external occipital protuberance and the frontal bone (now usually the glabella).
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1831 C. D. Meigs tr. A. A. L. M. Velpeau Elem. Treat. Midwifery iv. ii. 202 That of the occipito-frontal diameter.
1855 J. King Amer. Eclectic Obstetrics 49 The longitudinal, horizontal, antero-posterior, or occipito-frontal diameter..extends from the center of the forehead to the occipital protuberance.
1875 E. M. Hale Materia Medica 405 Complained of occipito-frontal headache.
1883 Science 2 Mar. 118/1 In the collection of crania by M. Marche, from the Philippine Islands, a large proportion exhibited an occipito-frontal compression, described by M. Topinard to be nearly identical with the results of the cranial compression of the Peruvians and Chinooks.
1913 Cunningham's Text-bk. Anat. (ed. 4) 650 In the occipital lobe the inferior occipito-frontal bundle is placed on the lateral aspect of the optic radiation.
1932 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) B. 221 404 The greater callosum index in brachycephalics is also to be explained by the greater height and occipito-frontal shortening of the brain.
1965 Current Anthropol. 6 140 Sagittal curve (occipitofrontal curve).—From the nasion to the opisthion by following the mid-line of the vault.
1985 M. F. Myles Textbk. Midwives (ed. 10) iv. 61 The occipito-frontal diameter, 11.5 cm, will sweep the perineum.
1998 Jrnl. Neurol. Sci. 155 204 The assumption is that optic ataxia may occur either following damage to the parieto-occipital region or to disruption of its occipitofrontal connections.
2. Designating the occipitofrontalis muscle. rare.
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1873 Chambers's Encycl. VIII. 520/2 But besides the skin, the scalp is composed of the expanded tendon of the occipito-frontal muscle.
1988 Jrnl. Neurol. Sci. 83 25 The occipitofrontal and buccinator muscles.
2000 Plastic & Reconstructive Surg. 106 777 The technique involved positioning a tissue expander in the forehead pocket under the occipitofrontal muscle and serially inflating the expander over a period of approximately 4 to 6 weeks.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1811