Glabella (Space Between the Eyebrows) – Meaning and Usage in Medical English

👁 What Does “Glabella” Mean?

The glabella is the smooth area between the eyebrows, just above the bridge of the nose. It overlies a slight bony prominence of the frontal bone.

The word comes from Latin glaber, “smooth” or “hairless”, because this patch of skin has no eyebrow hair. The plural is glabellae, and the adjective is glabellar.

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🔍 Clinical Usage

The glabella appears in neurology, dermatology and nursing notes:

• glabellar tap reflex — repeated tapping between the eyebrows; persistent blinking is a sign seen in Parkinson’s disease
• glabellar lines — the vertical “frown lines” between the eyebrows, a common cosmetic concern
• glabellar injection — botulinum toxin treatment for frown lines
• glabellar laceration — a common cut when a patient falls face first
• facial measurements — a landmark in plastic surgery and craniofacial assessment

Common collocations include:

• glabellar tap sign
• glabellar frown lines
• laceration at the glabella
• swelling over the glabella

Here’s a natural clinical example:

“Positive glabellar tap; resting tremor of the right hand.”
→ Meaning: When tapped between the eyebrows, the patient kept blinking, and the right hand shakes at rest.

🗣 Pronunciation

gluh-BEL-uh — the stress is on the second syllable. Glabellar is gluh-BEL-er.

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💡 OET Tip

With patients, say between your eyebrows. In writing, glabella is precise and widely used. Don’t confuse the glabella (between the eyebrows) with the dorsum of the nose (the bridge running down from it).