Day 1 (1): Anatomy of the Orbit, Eyelid and Lacrimal System Flashcards
Borders of the bony orbit
Superior: Anterior cranial fossa
Medial: Nasal cavity and ethmoid air cells
Inferior: Maxillary sinus
Lateral: Middle cranial fossa and temporal fossa
7 Bones of the Bony Orbit
- Frontal bone
- Ethmoid bone
- Lacrimal bone
- Maxillary bone
- Zygomatic bone
- Sphenoid bone
- Palatine bone
Descriptors of the bony orbit
- Shape: Quadrilateral pyramid but spheroidal
- Base: Orbital margin
- Apex: Optic strut (between medial end of SOF and optic foramen)
- Orientation: anteriorly, laterally & inferiorly
- Widest part: 10-15 mm behind the anterior orbital rim (corresponds to equator of globe)
Dimensions of bony orbit
- Volume: 30 mL (constant unlike volume of orbital soft tissues)
- H x W of entrance: 35 mm x 40 mm
- Medial wall length: 45 mm
- Distance post. globe to optic foramen: 18 mm
- Length of orbital segment of ON: 30 mm
Hence, the S-shaped contour of the ON
Most common cause of unilateral or bilateral lid retraction and axial proptosis
Thyroid Eye Disease
Types of Thyroid Eye Disease
Type 1: fatty hyperplasia + tissue edema WITHOUT restrictive myopathy
Type 2: EOM enlargement WITH restrictive myopathy
- IR > MR > SR > LR [“Eye (I) Mo So Laki]
Anterior displacement of the eyeball due to increase in orbital content volume
Form of anterior decompression of the orbit
Proptosis
CT scan difference of proptosed vs unproptosed eye
NORMAL
1. Equator (widest part of the globe) should coincide with the widest part of the bony orbit behind the anterior orbital rim
2. ON with S-shaped contour
PROPTOSED
- Increase in orbital fat volume (Type I) OR
- Enlargement of extraocular muscles (Type 2)
1. Anterior displacement of globe
2. Equator is anterior to orbital rim/margin
3. Straightening of the ON
Remember:
Orbital volume remains constant at 30 mL
Roof of the orbit
rooFS
2 bones: Frontal + Lesser wing of Sphenoid
DEMARCATIONS:
Lateral:
Superior orbital fissure (separates Lesser wing from Greater wing)
Frontosphenoidal suture
Frontozygomatic suture
Medial:
Frontoethmoidal suture
Frontolacrimal suture
Frontomaxillary suture
Landmarks/Important Structures in the Roof of the Orbit
Lacrimal fossa: lacrimal gland
Trochlear fossa: trochlea of SO
Supraorbital notch: supraorbital vessels and nerve
Bones forming middle cranial fossa
Sphenoid bone (shaped like wings of a bat) and 2 temporal bones on either side
Boundaries of the SOF and IOF
SOF: between 2 wings of the sphenoid
IOF: between maxillary bone and greater wing of the sphenoid
Disease presenting with absence of orbital roof
Sphenoid bone dysplasia
- prolapse of contents of middle cranial fossa into orbit
Presentation of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 or Recklinghausen’s Disease?
- Sphenoid bone dysplasia: pulsating proptosis
- anterior and inferior displacement of globe due to prolapse of middle cranial fossa contents - Optic nerve glioma
- Plexiform neurofibroma/Fibroma molluscum
- Cafe-au-lait spots
- Axillary freckling
- Lisch nodules: 1 to 2 mm yellowish-brown dome-shaped solid lesions over the iris surface
- X-ray: remodelling and thickening of orbit due to chronicity
Thinnest wall of the orbit
Medial wall
Characteristics of medial wall
- Length: 45 mm
- Parallel to each other (25 mm apart) and to the sagittal plane
4 bones of the medial wall
SMEL
- Sphenoid bone (lesser wing)
- Maxillary bone (frontal process)
- Ethmoid bone (orbital plate)
- Lacrimal bone: THINNEST bone of orbit
Landmarks in the medial wall
Lacrimal Sac Fossa
Borders:
Anterior Lacrimal Crest: anterior border of LF; part of maxillary bone
Posterior Lacrimal Crest: posterior border of LF; part of lacrimal bone
Normal relationship of lacrimal sac fossa, ethmoid air cells and middle turbinate
N: LSF should be anterior to both tip of middle turbinate and ethmoid air cells
When entering the nasal cavity through the orbit, structures encountered:
1. Lacrimal bone
2. +/- Ethmoid air cells if anteriorly placed
3. Nasal cavity SUPERO-ANTERIOR to the middle turbinate
Shortest wall of the orbit
Floor of the orbit
- triangular in shape
3 Bones of the Orbital Floor
PaMaZa
- Palatine Bone
- Maxillary bone: THINNEST bone of the floor
- especially thin in the area MEDIAL to the infraorbital groove - Zygomatic bone
Landmarks in the Floor of the Orbit
- Infraorbital Groove
- in the middle of the posterior part of the orbital surface of the maxillary bone
- passage of infraorbital artery, vein and nerve which all exit the orbit through the Infraorbital Foramen - Nasolacrimal Groove
- houses nasolacrimal duct
Most common type of blow-out fracture
Orbital Floor Blow-out Fracture
- due to inherent thinness of the maxillary bone medial to the infraorbital groove
- d/t blunt trauma from a NON-PENETRATING object –> posterior compression of orbital contents towards apex –> sudden increase in intra-orbital pressure –> fracturing of the bone at the weakest point
- compressive forces at the orbital rim –> direct deformation of floor
Most common locations of orbital bone fractures
- Medial wall (lacrimal +/- ethmoid bone): thinnest wall
- Orbital floor medial to the infraorbital groove (maxillary bone)
- causes entrapment of orbital soft tissues or even IR prolapsing into maxillary sinus
Signs of orbital floor blow-out fracture
- Enophthalmos: posterior displacement of the eye (sunken eye)
- Diplopia: double vision due to impaired binocularity of the eyes
- Limitation on up-gaze (IO) and downgaze (IR)
- Infraorbital nerve dysfunction due to entrapment of infraorbital nerve in the groove
- Lid edema
- Lid emphysema: entry of air from maxillary sinus into orbit
Difference of Exophthalmos vs Proptosis
Exophthalmos: protrusion due to TED
Proptosis: protrusion due to other causes
Thickest wall of the orbit
Lateral wall
- triangular
- 45 degree angle with medial wall
Bones of lateral wall of orbit
Sa Zide
- Greater wing of Sphenoid bone
- Zygomatic bone
Landmarks of Lateral Wall of Orbit
- Frontozygomatic suture: between frontal bone and zygomatic bone
- Superior Orbital Fissure
- space between the two wings of the sphenoid
- boundary of lateral wall and roof
+ Greater wing: lateral wall
+ Lesser wing: roof - Inferior Orbital Fissure
- space between the maxillary bone and greater wing of sphenoid
- boundary of lateral wall and floor
+ Greater wing: lateral wall
+ Maxillary bone: floor
Surgical access into the orbit is most accessible through which route?
Lateral Orbitotomy
- through the lateral wall
What are the different apertures in the orbit?
Medial to Lateral:
- Nasolacrimal Canal: housing the NLD
- Ethmoidal Foramina (Anterior and Posterior)
- Optic Foramen: leading into optic canal
- Superior Orbital Fissure: between 2 wings of Sphenoid
- Inferior Orbital Fissure: between maxillary bone and greater wing of Sphenoid
- Zygomaticotemporal and Zygomaticofacial Canals
What passes through the ethmoidal foramina?
Ethmoidal artery, vein and nerves
Clinical correlate: Route of entry for infection and neoplasms from ethmoid sinuses and nasal cavity into the orbit
Most common cause of orbital cellulitis?
Ethmoid Sinusitis
- gaining entry into the orbit via the Ethmoidal Foramina
- with or without abscess formation
- cranial CT: hyperdensity of the ethmoid with hypodensity in the adjacent orbit signifying abscess formation
What are the 8 structures passing through the the Superior Orbital Fissure?
In between the greater wing (lateral wall) and lesser wing (roof) of Sphenoid bone
Contents: LFSTONOAS
Lateral part:
1. Lacrimal nerve (V1)
2. Frontal nerve (V1)
3. Superior Ophthalmic Vein
4. Trochlear nerve (IV)
Medial part: within the Annulus of Zinn
5. Oculomotor nerve - Superior division (III S)
6. Nasociliary nerve (V1)
7. Oculomotor nerve - Inferior division (III I)
8. Abducens nerve (VI)
9. Sympathetic nerve fibers
- proximally: travel with CN6
- distally: travel with CN5A as it enters SOF
Presentation of SOF fracture
- Ophthalmoplegia: paralysis of EOMs
- limitation of EOM movement due to neuropathy of CN III, IV and VI - Ptosis: drooping of upper lids (CN III to LPS)
- Proptosis: decreased EOM tension with loss of innervation +/- soft tissue edema
- Fixed pupil: CN III to iris sphincter (parasympathetic constrictor) and sympathetic fibers to iris dilator
- Lacrimal hyposecretion: lacrimal nerve to lacrimal gland (V1)
- Loss of corneal sensation: nasociliary nerve to cornea (V1)
What structures pass through the Inferior Orbital Fissure?
Between orbital floor and lateral wall (maxillary bone and greater wing of Sphenoid)
- Inferior Ophthalmic Vein
- Maxillary nerve (CN5B): continues as Infraorbital nerve after exit of branches
- Infraorbital artery and vein: travel in the infraorbital groove –> canal –> foramen
- Zygomatic nerve (CN5B):
- branch of the Maxillary nerve
- branches into the ZygomaticoTemporal + ZygomaticoFacial nerve - Parasympathetic fibers to lacrimal gland
- Collateral Meningeal Arteries
What structures pass through the ZygomaticoTemporal and ZygomaticoFacial foramen?
Branches of the Zygomatic nerve:
1. ZGT Foramen: ZygomaticoTemporal NAV
2. ZGF Foramen: ZygomaticoFacial NAV
What structure passes through the nasolacrimal canal?
Nasolacrimal Duct
- continuation of lacrimal sac located in the lacrimal sac fossa between the lacrimal and maxillary bone (frontal process)
- exits into the INFERIOR meatus under the INFERIOR turbinate
What structures are contained in the optic canal?
- 8 - 10 mm long canal terminating in the orbit via the optic foramen
- located in the LESSER wing of sphenoid bone
Optic Strut
- apex of the orbit
- part of the LESSER wing of the sphenoid bone that separates the SOF from the optic canal
Contents:
1. Optic Nerve
2. Ophthalmic Artery
Common presentation of Sphenoid Wing Fracture and Sphenoid Wing Meningioma?
Blurring of vision due to compression of CN II at the level of the optic canal
Sphenoid Wing Meningioma:
- arises from the arachnoid membrane
- 20% of intracranial meningiomas
- causes hyperostosis or bone thickening
Hyperostosis
- MC skull change associated with meningioma
- either due to the tumor stimulating osteoblastic activity in the adjacent bone or from periosteal stimulation via tumor invasion
- (+) prominent temple
6 Structures passing within the Annulus of Zinn?
Optic Canal
1. Optic Nerve (2)
2. Ophthalmic Artery
Superior Orbital Fissure
3. Oculomotor nerve - Superior Division (3S)
4. Nasociliary nerve (5A)
5. Oculomotor nerve - Inferior Division (3I)
6. Abducens nerve (6)
Primary arterial supply of the orbit?
Internal Carotid Artery:
Ophthalmic Artery:
- primary arterial supply of the orbit
External Carotid Artery:
1. Facial Artery: along the angle of the mandible
2. Maxillary Artery: terminal branch
3. Superficial Temporal Artery: terminal branch
What are the 9 branches of the Ophthalmic Artery?
DR MCLESSI
- Dorsal Nasal Artery
- (Central) Retinal Artery
- Muscular Artery
- Ciliary Arteries (Long Posterior, Short Posterior, Anterior)
- Lacrimal Artery
- Ethmoidal Arteries (Anterior and Posterior)
- Supraorbital Artery
- Supratrochlear Artery (Frontal Artery)
- Internal Palpebral Artery (Lateral and Medial)
Ocular group: vessels to the globe and EOMs
CAMP
1. Central retinal artery
2. Posterior ciliary arteries (Long and Short)
3. Anterior ciliary artery
4. Muscular arteries (Superior and Inferior)
Orbital group: vessels to the orbit
SSLIDE
1. Lacrimal artery
2. Supraorbital artery
3. Supratrochlear artery/Frontal artery
4. Ethmoidal artery (Anterior and Posterior)
5. Internal palpebral artery (Medial and Lateral)
6. Dorsal nasal artery
Describe the branching of the Ophthalmic Artery
- Central Retinal Artery: first and most important branch of the OA
- end artery and no collateral circulation
- branches off before OA crosses over the ON
Lateral Branch
- Ciliary Artery
- Lacrimal Artery
- (Lateral) Internal Palpebral Artery
Medial Branch
- Muscular Artery
+ Ciliary Artery - Supraorbital Artery
- Anterior and Posterior Ethmoidal Artery
+ (Medial) Internal Palpebral Artery - Supratrochlear Artery
- Dorsal Nasal Artery
What structures are supplied by the branches of the OA?
- Central Retinal Artery
- ONH & ant. 2/3 of retina (NFL, GCL, IPL, INL) - Ciliary Arteries:
- Short Posterior CA: posterior choroid, posterior 1/3 of retina (OPL, ONL, PRL, RPE) and ONH (via the Circle of Zinn-Haller)
- Long Posterior CA and Anterior CA: anterior segment, ciliary body and anterior choroid - Lacrimal Artery: lacrimal gland
- Internal Palpebral Artery: upper and lower eyelid
- Muscular Artery: EOMs
- Supraorbital Artery: SR, LPS, skin, muscles and periosteum of forehead
- Ethmoidal Artery: ethmoidal air cells, lateral wall of nasal cavity, nasal septum
- Supratrochlear Artery: skin, muscles and periosteum of forehead
- Dorsal Nasal Artery: lacrimal sac, NLD, dorsum of nose
Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO)
- Ophthalmic emergency
- Causes: ICA/OA/CRA atherosclerosis, embolism, vasculitis
- Sequelae: rapid ischemia and infarction of ON and inner retina
- Presentation: ACUTE, UNILATERAL, PAINLESS VISION LOSS