The frontal branch of the STA is one of its terminal branches, which arises from the STA as it passes over the zygomatic arch, a bony structure on the side of the skull.
The frontal branch of the STA supplies blood to the forehead and scalp above the forehead, and gives off several smaller branches that supply the hair follicles and sweat glands in this area. It also anastomoses, or connects, with other blood vessels in the area, including the supraorbital artery and the ophthalmic artery, which supply blood to the eye and surrounding structures.
The frontal branch of the STA is important in a number of surgical procedures, including those involving the forehead and scalp. For example, in reconstructive surgery, it may be used as a source of blood supply for tissue flaps or grafts. It may also be used in neurosurgery, where it can be used to provide a blood supply to the dura mater, the tough outermost layer of the brain.
In addition to its surgical significance, the frontal branch of the STA is also important in the diagnosis and management of certain medical conditions, including giant cell arteritis, a type of inflammatory disease that can affect the temporal arteries and cause headaches, jaw pain, and visual disturbances.