What is the name of the broad muscle that covers the top of the skull?

The name of the broad muscle that covers the top of the skull is the epicranius. This muscle is also known as the occipitofrontalis and consists of two main parts: the frontalis muscle, which covers the forehead, and the occipitalis muscle, which covers the back of the skull. The epicranius is significant because it plays a crucial role in facial expressions, particularly those related to raising the eyebrows and wrinkling the forehead. It stretches over the dome-like top of the skull, connecting the frontalis and occipitalis muscles through a connective tissue layer called the galea aponeurotica.

Understanding this muscle's role and structure is essential in fields like cosmetology, where knowledge of facial anatomy influences techniques and services offered. The frontalis and occipitalis, while functioning as parts of the epicranius, do not, by themselves, represent the broad muscle that spans across the top of the skull.