Anatomy + Conditions Of The Eye I Flashcards
Describe the orbital cavity
- pyramidal shape with apex pointing posteriorly
- four bony walls
Bones forming the orbital cavity
Frontal
Ethmoid
Lacrimal
Maxilla
Palatine
Zygomatic
Sphenoid
What are the weakest parts of the orbital cavity?
Why?
- Inferior (floor) wall (maxillary bone)
- Medial wall (ethmoid bone)
- Not supported by solid bone
What happens in an orbital blowout fracture?
- Sudden increases in intra-orbital pressure from trauma to eye/orbit which fractures the orbital floor
- orbital contents prolapses > bleeding into maxilllary sinus
- entrapment of tissues near orbital floor > prevents upwards gaze
Important anatomical relations to the orbit
- anterior cranial fossa
- ethmoid air cells (air sinuses)
- maxillary air sinus
- nasal cavity (via nasal lacrimnal duct)
Borders of the orbital cavity
- roof: orbital plates of frontal bone
- floor: maxilla bone
- medial: ethmoid + lacrimal bones
- lateral sphenoid + zygomatic bones
Management of orbital blowout fracture
- CT of orbit
- avoid nose blowing, valsalva manoeuvres + driving (until diplopia resolves)
- surgical repair if symptoms persists 1-2 weeks post injury
What eye movement is restricted in orbital blowout fracture?
Why?
Upward gaze
Entrapment of the tissues near the orbital floor in fracture site
How does orbital cellulitis occur?
- Ethmoidal air cells become infected (acute sinusitis)
- infection can break through the thin lamina papyracea
- infection spreads into orbit
What is the lamina papyracea?
Part of the ethmoid bone forming the medial wall of the orbit
‘Paper thin’
When does an orbital blowout fracture occur?
Sudden increased in intra orbital pressure from trauma to eye/orbit
Openings in the apex of the orbital cavity
Optic canal
Superior orbital fissure
Inferior orbital fissure
What structures pass through the optic canal?
Optic nerve
Ophthalmic artery
What structures pass through get superior orbital fissure?
- oculomotor nerve III
- trochlear nerve IV
- abducens nerve VI
- ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve Va
- superior ophthalmic vein (communicates with cavernous sinus)
What structures pass through the inferior orbital fissure?
- infraorbital nerve (branch of Vb)
- inferior ophthalmic vein (communicates with pterygoid venous plexus)
What nerve carries pain from the orbit?
Ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve Va
What is the orbital septum?
- Thin fibrous sheet originating from orbital rim
- Separates intra-orbital contents from muscle + subcutaneous tissue of eyelid
What is the orbital septum continuous with?
Tarsal plate
Function of the orbital septum
Barrier against infection spreading from the superficial eye lid region (pre septal) into the orbital cavity (post-septal)
What is periorbital cellulitis?
Infection confined to skin + tissues of eyelid superficial to the orbital septum (pre-septal)
Affect of periorbital cellulitis on eye movement + vision
Eye movement + vision unaffected as it is outside the orbit
What is orbital cellulitis?
Infection within the orbit posterior or deep to the orbital septum (post-septal)
Presentation of orbital cellulitis
Proptosis
Reduced eye movements +/- pain
Reduced visual acuity
What does the eyelid consist of?
Skin
Subcutaneous tissue
Muscles
Tarsal plate
Key muscles within the eyelid
Palpebral part of orbicularis oculi
Levator palpebrae superioris
What glands are located in the eyelids?
Meibomian glands
Glands associated with lash follicle
Function of Meibomian glands
Modified sebaceous fluid
Provide lipid layer of tear film
Prevent tear evaporation + spillage over lid
What is released from glands in the eyelids?
Sebaceous fluid - oily substance
What glands are located in the tarsal place?
Meibomian glands
Describe a stye
- located on the outer part of eyelid
- painful
- red with white puncture