Anatomy Flashcards
What is the orbit?
The bony cavity which holds the eyeball
Name the 7 bones that make up the orbit
Frontal bone Sphenoid bone Zygomatic bone Maxilla Palatine Ethmoid Lacrimal
What is meant by the orbital plates?
The flat sections of bone found within the orbit which are thin-walled and so susceptible to fractures
Which 3 bones have an orbital plate?
Frontal
Ethmoid
Maxilla
What are the functions of the following bony features of the orbit:
-Optic canal in the sphenoid bone
-Superior orbital fissure in the sphenoid bone
-Supraorbital foramen/notch in the frontal bone
-Infraorbital foramen in the maxilla
?
- Optic canal in the sphenoid bone: entry of the optic nerve and ophthalmic artery
- Superior orbital fissure in the sphenoid bone: entry of CN III, IV and VI
- Supraorbital foramen/notch in the frontal bone: passage of the supraorbital NVB
- Infraorbital foramen in the maxilla: passage of the infraorbital NVB
The orbit is described as a pyramid shape. Where are the apex and base of the ‘pyramid’ found?
Apex: posteriorly at the optic canal
Base: the orbital rim
The 4 margins of the orbit are the lateral wall, medial wall, orbital floor and orbital roof. Which 2 of these are most susceptible to fracture? Why?
Medial wall + orbital floor
They are formed by thin orbital plates
What is a blowout fracture?
When pressure from a blow to thicker orbital bones fractures the medial wall/ orbital floor, which are formed by thinner orbital plates
What is a trap door fracture?
What is a possible consequence?
When a fracture in part of a bone in the orbital floor allows fat and other optic contents to slip through
If a nerve becomes trapped in the trap door, this can lead to parasthesia in the part of the face supplied by that nerve
Name the external sphincter muscle which completely encircles the eyeball
Orbicularis oculi
What are the 2 parts of the orbicularis oculi and what are their functions?
Orbital part: completely surrounds the orbit proper and is responsible for tight squeezing shut of the eyes
Palpebral part: lies directly on the eyelid and is responsible for gentle closing of the eye
What is the nerve supply to orbicularis oculi?
CN VII - the facial nerve (as it is a muscle of facial expression)
Name the 6 parts of the fibrous skeleton found deep to the orbicularis oculi muscle
- Superior tarsus
- Inferior tarsus
- Medial palpebral ligament
- Lateral palpebral ligament
- Tendon of levator palpebrae superioris (LPS)
- Orbital septum
The orbital septum extends from the orbital rim to the tarsi around the eyelids. What is the function of the orbital septum?
To prevent spread of infection between superficial and deep parts of the orbit
What is levator palpebrae superioris (LPS)?
A muscle responsible for elevating the upper eyelid
levator = elevate, palpebrae = eyelid, superioris = upper
Which muscle connects to LPS in the eyelid? Why is it special?
Superior tarsus muscle (Mueller’s muscle)
It is a smooth muscle so receives sympathetic innervation
What is the function of the superior tarsus muscle (Mueller’s muscle)?
Widens the parpebral fissure (i.e., opens the eyes wide) during times of sympathetic stimulation
What gland is found in the eyelid and what is its function?
The tarsal glands
Secrete lipids that line the eyelids to prevent overflow of lacrimal fluid (tears)
The lacrimal gland is found superolaterally to the orbit and its function is to secrete lacrimal fluid. What nerve innervates the lacrimal gland and what is its modality?
CN VII (facial nerve)
Parasympathetic secretomotor innervation
Describe the route of lacrimal fluid from the lacrimal gland to the nasal cavity
- Fluid washes over eye from lacrimal gland towards the medial angle
- Passes into the lacrimal lake at the medial angle
- Passes through the lacrimal puncta and into the 2 canaliculi
- Passes into the lacrimal sac - the first part of the nasolacrimal duct
- Nasolacrimal duct drains into the nasal cavity via the inferior meatus
There are 7 extraocular muscles. Name the 4 rectus muscles
Superior rectus
Inferior rectus
Medial rectus
Lateral rectus
Why are the extraocular rectus muscles called ‘rectus’?
‘Rectus’ means straight and the rectus muscles run from the posterior part of the orbit in a straight line and attach to the eyeball relatively anteriorly
What is the common origin and the common insertion of the rectus muscles?
Origin: common tendinous ring
Insertion: sclera of the eyeball
There are 7 extraocular muscles. Name the 2 oblique muscles
Superior oblique
Inferior oblique
Why are the extraocular oblique muscles called ‘oblique’?
They attach to the more posteriorly at an oblique angle
What are the separate origins and common insertion of the oblique muscles?
SO origin: sphenoid bone
IO origin: orbital plate of maxilla
Insertion: sclera of the eyeball
What is the trochlea?
A loop of connective tissue which the superior oblique runs through before changing direction to attach to the posterior eyeball
What is the last extraocular muscle?
Levator palpebrae superioris (LPS)
What is the origin and the insertion of LPS?
Origin: lesser wing of sphenoid
Insertion: skin and tarsus of superior eyelid
How can we remember the innervation to the extraocular muscles?
LR6 SO4 AO3
LR6: lateral rectus = CN 6 = abducens nerve
SO4: superior oblique = CN 4 = trochlear nerve
AO3: all others = CN 3 = oculomotor nerve
Movements of the eye are described according to movement of the X from its Y position?
Movement of the pupil from its primary position (i.e., gaze straight forward)
Clinical testing of extraocular muscles:
Which muscle abducts the eye only so that the superior rectus and inferior rectus can be tested?
Lateral rectus
Clinical testing of extraocular muscles:
When the eye has been abducted by the lateral rectus, what actions of…
-Superior rectus
-Inferior rectus
… are being tested?
- Superior rectus: elevation
- Inferior rectus: depression
Clinical testing of extraocular muscles:
Which muscle adducts the eye only so that the superior oblique and inferior oblique can be tested?
Medial rectus
Clinical testing of extraocular muscles:
When the eye has been adducted by the medial rectus, what actions of…
-Superior oblique
-Inferior oblique
… are being tested?
- Superior oblique: depression
- Inferior oblique: elevation
What are ‘yoke muscles’?
Primary muscles working together to achieve a common position of gaze
What 2 extraocular muscles work together to purely elevate the eyes from the primary position?
Superior rectus
Inferior oblique
What 2 extraocular muscles work together to purely depress the eyes from the primary position?
Inferior rectus
Superior oblique
Glands and smooth muscles of the head and neck, including the orbit, receive autonomic innervation.
Describe the route of pre-synaptic sympathetic axons to the orbit
- Originate from autonomic centres in the brain
- Pass down the spinal cord and exit at T1 spinal level (thoracolumbar outflow)
- Ascend into the neck via the sympathetic chain
- Synapse in the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion (just behind the mandible)
Describe the route of post-synaptic sympathetic axons to the orbit
- Leave the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion
- Enter the peri-arterial sympathetic plexus on the internal and external carotid arteries
- Follow the internal carotid artery into the head and neck
- Follows the ophthalmic artery (a branch of the internal carotid) to the orbit
Describe the route of pre-synaptic parasympathetic axons to the orbit
- CN’s 3, 7, 9 and 10 leave the CNS to travel to the head and neck (craniosacral outflow)
- The inferior division of CN III travels to supply the orbit
- CN III fibres synapse in the ciliary ganglion in the bony orbit
Describe the route of post-synaptic parasympathetic axons to the orbit
- Leave the ciliary ganglion via the short ciliary nerve
- Supply smooth muscles and glands of the eye
What is the
-Sympathetic
-Parasympathetic
autonomic ganglion involved in innervation to the eye?
- Sympathetic: superior cervical ganglion
- Parasympathetic: ciliary ganglion
The inferior division of CN III (oculomotor) is the only nerve to synapse in the ciliary ganglion. What other nerves pass through it?
- Post-synaptic sympathetic fibres
- General sensory fibres
Describe the route of CN III (oculomotor nerve) to the eye
- Connects with CNS at junction of midbrain and pons
- Passes through the cavernous sinus
- Exits cranial cavity via the superior orbital fissure in the sphenoid bone
- Enters the bony orbit and splits into a superior and an inferior division
- Both divisions give somatic motor supply to the extraocular muscles
- The inferior division gives pre-synaptic parasympathetic axons to the ciliary ganglion
What is the difference between the cornea and the conjunctiva?
Cornea = a clear outer layer overing the iris and pupil
Conjunctiva = a clear membrane which covers the sclera (white part) of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids
Name the place where the cornea and conjunctiva meet
The limbus (corneoscleral junction)
The blood vessels seen in the sclera are called…
Conjunctival vessels