Anatomy Of Orbit and Eye Flashcards
What is the Orbital cavity?
How many walls does it have?
A pyramid shaped bony cavity with the apex pointing posteriorly
4 walls (Superior/ Roof, Inferior/ Floor, Medial and Lateral)
Which walls of the Orbit are the weakest?
Of these 2 bones which one most often fractures?
What does direct impact to front of eye result in?
- Inferior/ Floor and Medial Walls
- Inferior Wall/ Floor
- Sudden increase in intraorbital pressure
What do you call a fracture of Inferior/ Medial wall of the Orbit?
An orbital blow-out fracture
What bone forms the Medial wall of the orbit?
What do we call the part of this bone in particular that forms the medial wall?
- Ethmoid
- Lamina Papyracea
Despite the Medial Wall of the Orbit being thinner than the Inferior Wall, why does the inferior wall more often fracture upon impact?
Walled air cells (Ethmoid air sinuses) in the Medial Wall add extra strength to the wall
The Walled Air Cells of the Medial Wall of the Orbit can become infected (Acute Sinusitis).
What can this lead to, given their proximity to the orbit?
- Infection can break through the thin Lamina Papyracea and track into the orbit OR into cranial cavity
- Causing Orbital Cellulitis
List the 3 holes of the Orbit and state what structures pass through each
Optic Canal;
- Optic nerve
- Ophthalmic artery
Superior Orbital Fissure;
- CN III, IV and VI
- CN Va
- Superior Opthalmic Vein
Inferior Orbital Fissure;
- Inferior Opthalmic Vein
- Infraorbital nerve
How might a fracture of the Floor of the Orbit affect eye movement?
- Fracture site can ‘trap’ structures (such as Extra-ocular muscles) located near orbital floor
- Prevents upwards gaze on affected side
List the layers of the eyeball from superficial to deep
- Sclera
- Choroid
- Retina
Describe the Sclera in 4 ways
- Fibrous and continuous anteriorly as the Cornea (transparent)
- Provides attachment for the extra-ocular muscles
- Gives shape to eyeball
- Continuous with Dural sheath covering the Optic Nerve at the back of eye
What is the Limbus?
Junction between Sclera and Cornea
What happens to the blood vessels running in the Conjunctivae when it becomes inflamed? (Conjunctivitis)
What do patients with Viral Conjunctivitis often report?
- Vessels dilate and eye appears red
- Eye feels uncomfortable and Gritty (as opposed to painful), with tearing of the eye (watery eyes)
Conjunctivitis is highly contagious and can spread very easily.
How do we generally treat?
- Reassurance
- Hygiene advice
- Topical chloramphenicol eye drops
Suggest a cause of Conjunctivitis in the neonatal period and a treatment
Chlamydial conjunctivitis picked up from mother’s vaginal mucosa
Systemic antibiotics (Erythromycin)
Describe the layer that covers the Sclera
- Thin, transparent cellular layer called the Conjunctivae
- Extends to edge of the Limbus anteriorly
- Running posteriorly, reflects onto inner surfaces of eyelids
Other than Conjunctivitis suggest and describe a conjunctival cause of ‘Red Eye’
Subconjunctival haemorrhage;
- Small conjunctival vessels rupture and blood is under conjunctivae
- Looks worse than it is
- Common, Painless
- Only need to reassure that it will slowly resolve
Describe the Middle Layer of the eyeball
Choroid;
- Vascular area
- Continues anterior as the Ciliary Body and Iris
- Ciliary body is both Vascular and Muscular (Consists of a Ciliary Process and muscle)
What structure is made up of the Ciliary Body, Iris and Choroid
Uvea
How does Uveitis present?
What is it typically associated with?
- Red Eye
- Painful, worse when focusing/ looking at bright lights
Autoimmune conditions such as;
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
What is Iritis?
List 3 ways it presents
Anterior uveitis (Inflammation of iris)
- Painful
- Red Eye
- Photosensitivity
Presence of Red Eye with Acute Pain requires urgent referral.
Give an example of such a condition and state 2 possible complications
How may it be treated?
- Uveitis, Inflammation of the Choroid Layer
- Can lead to Cataracts and Glaucoma
- Corticosteroids
Briefly describe the inner layer of the eyeball
Retina;
- Photosensitive and Non-photosensitive parts
- Neurosensory and Pigmented Epithelial Cell layers
Describe the Pigmented Epithelial Cell Layer of the Retina as well as its cells and their function
- PECL lies between Choroid and NSL
- Its cells contain Melanin which absorbs scattered light that has passed into the eye
This;
- Reduces reflection, allowing us to focus images appropriately onto the retina
- Absorbs excess light preventing damage
Very briefly, describe the Neurosensory Layer of the Retina
- Area of retina that senses light
- Where the Photoreceptors (Cones and Rods) are found
Briefly, describe the Cones’ function and state where many of them are concentrated
- Responsible for High Visual Acuity and Colour Vision
- Many are concentrated in the Macula (Centre of your vision)
How does the Macula appear on fundoscopy?
What is the Fovea? What Photoreceptors are found here?
- Slightly darker area of retina, lying just lateral to the Optic Disc
Fovea;
- Centre of Macula
- Only Photoreceptors present are Cones
What are the types of Cones?
Name and describe the condition resulting from the absence/ dysfunction of one of these cones
Red, Green and Blue-sensitive cones
Colour blindness;
- Inherited
- Affects males more frequently than females
How many more Rods are there than Cones?
What do they do?
Where are they more abundant?
- 20 times
- Responsible for vision in Low Intensity Light (Do not discern colours)
- Peripheral parts of retina
How do the Rods work?
Light energy converted into electrical impulses, which reach Optic Disc
Impulses move along visual pathway to Occipital Lobe
Describe the Optic Disc
- Represents accumulation of Retinal Axons leaving as Optic Nerve
- Devoid of Photoreceptors, thus called the ‘Blind Spot’