Fundamentals of Ophthalmology Flashcards
What is the volume of the adult orbit?
Slightly less than 30cc or one ounce
(about the size of a shot glass)
What are the average
dimensions of the orbital entrance?
35 mm in height by 45 mm in width
Where does the maximum
width of the bony orbit occur?
1 cm behind the anterior orbital margin
What is the depth
range of the adult orbit?
4.0-4.5 cm
Name the seven bones that make up the orbit?
Bones of the Orbit:
- Maxillary
- Frontal
- Zygomatic
- Ethmoid
- Lacrimal
- Sphenoid
- Palatine
Mnemonic:
Many Friendly Zebras Enjoy Lazy Summer Picnics
What two bones form the orbital roof?
Frontal (orbital plate) and
lesser wing of spenoid
Mnemonic: Front-less
“2-2-3-4, all have sphenoid except the floor” - order is roof, lateral, floor, medial
What two bones form
the lateral orbital wall?
Greater Wing of sphenoid and zygoma
Mnemonic: Great-Z
“2-2-3-4, all have sphenoid except the floor” - order is roof, lateral, floor, medial
What three bones form
the orbital floor?
Palatine, maxilla, and
zygoma (orbital plate)
Mnemonic: PaM-Z
“2-2-3-4, all have sphenoid except the floor” - order is roof, lateral, floor, medial
What four bones form
the medial orbital wall?
Ethmoid (orbital plate), lacrimal, maxilla (frontal process), and lesser wing of sphenoid
Mnemonic: ELMS
“2-2-3-4, all have sphenoid except the floor” - order is roof, lateral, floor, medial
What bone forms the
anterior lacrimal crest?
Lacrimal
What bone forms the
posterior lacrimal crest?
Maxilla
What structure lies 4 mm behind the superior orbital margin medially and of what is it composed?
Trochlea- Hyaline cartilage
Which bone makes up
the largest portion of the medial wall?
Ethmoid
What is another term for the
ethmoid bone in the medical wall?
Lamina papyracea- “paper-thin layer”
The nasolacrimal canal
extends into what part of the nose?
Inferior meatus
What muscle arises from the orbital
floor just lateral to the opening of the
nasolacrimal canal?
Inferior oblique
Name six clinical features
of a blowout fracture?
Clinical Features of a Blowout Fracture:
- Diplopia
- Enophthalmos
- Hypesthesia of the infraorbital nerve
- Positive forced ductions
- Fluid level in maxillary sinus
- Periorbital crepitus
Which wall of the orbit is the
thickest and strongest?
Lateral Wall
What four structures
attach to the lateral orbital tubercle?
- Check ligament of the lateral rectus
- Suspensory ligament of the eyeball (Lockwood’s Ligament)
- Lateral palperbral ligament
- Levator aponeurosis
What structures
pass through the optic foramen?
- Central retinal vein
- Optic nerve
- Ophthalmic artery
- Sympathetic fibers from the carotid plexus
What bone does
the optic foramen pass through?
Lesser Wing of the Sphenoid
What travels through
the supraorbital foramen?
Blood vessels and the Supraorbital nerve (Branch of V<sub>1</sub>)
What travels through
the zygomatic foramen?
Zygomaticofacial and Zygomaticotemporal branches of
Zygomatic Artery and Nerve
The infraobital nerve is a
branch of which division of CN V?
V2 - Maxillary
What passes through the
superior part of the
superior orbital fissure?
- Lacrimal branch of CN V
- Frontal branch of CN V
- CN IV (Trochlear nerve)
Mnemonic: LFT
Superior part- above origin site of the lateral rectus
What divides the inferior and
superior parts of the
superior orbital fissure?
Origin of the lateral rectus muscle
What seven structures passes through
the inferior division of the
superior orbital fissure?
- Superior division of CN III
- Inferior division of CN III
- Nasociliary branch of CN V
- CN VI (Abducens nerve)
- Superior ophthalmic vein
- Inferior ophthalmic vein (part that drains into cavernous sinus with superior ophthalmic vein)
- Sympathetic nerve plexus
Inferior part- below origin site of the lateral rectus
What four structures
passes through the
inferior orbital fissure?
- Maxillary part of CN V
- Pterygoid part of CN V
- Nerve from the pterygopalitine ganglion
- Inferior Ophthalmic vein (the part that drains into ptyregoid venous plexus)
Where do the axons
of the optic nerve originate?
Ganglion cell layer of the retina
How many axons
comprise the optic nerve?
1 - 1.2 million
What is the length of the optic nerve?
3.5 - 5.5 cm, averages 4.0 cm
Name the four parts of the optic nerve and their respective lengths?
Intraocular- 1 mm
Intraorbital- 2.5 cm
Intracanalicular 4 - 10 mm
Intracranial 1.0 cm
What are the dimensions
of the optic nerve head?
1.75 mm vertically by 1.5 mm horizontally
After passing posterior to what anatomic landmark does optic nerve axons become myelinated?
Lamina cribosa
What type of cells
surround the optic nerve?
Glial cells
The optic nerve is developmentally part of the brain.
What arises from the Annulus of Zinn?
The rectus muscles
Which muscles originate partially from the sheath of the optic nerve and why is this clinically important?
Superior rectus and medial rectus.
Patients with retrobulbar neuritis
will complain of pain with EOM.
Why is it clinically important that the dural sheath of the optic nerve is fused to the periosteium in the canal?
Blunt tramua, especially to the brow, may be transmitted to the optic canal and cause a shearing of the dura and periosteum, compromising blood flow and causing ischemia of the optic nerve.
What is the blood supply of the surface
of the optic nerve head?
Central retinal artery or
small cilioretinal arteries
What is the blood supply
of the prelaminar region
and the lamina cribrosa?
Branches of the posterior ciliary arteries
Discuss the watershed zone formed by
the terminal posterior ciliary arteries.
When perfusion pressure drops, the area of the optic nerve contained within the watershed zone is prone to ischemic damage - e.g. anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
What is the blood supply
to the intraorbital part of the optic nerve?
Intraneural branches of the central retinal artery and pial branches from the peripapillary choroid, the central retinal artery and ophthalmic artery
What is the blood supply of the
intracanalicular part of the optic nerve?
Ophthalmic artery
What is the blood supply of the
intracranial part of the optic nerve?
Branches of the internal carotid
and ophthalmic arteries
The superior division of
CN III innervates what two muscles?
- Superior rectus
- Levator palpebrae superioris
The inferior division
of CN III innervates what three muscles?
- Medial rectus
- Inferior rectus
- Inferior oblique
What is carried on CN III, from where does it arise, and what does it innervate?
Parasympathetics that arise from the ciliary ganglion innervate the pupillary sphincter and ciliary body
How does a complete paralysis
of CN III present?
Ptosis (levator), inability to move
the eye up or in (eye looks
down and out), mydriasis
(pupillary sphincter)
What is unique about the location of the cell bodies of the part of CN III that innervates the levator?
They are found in
a single midline nucleus
What CN has the longest
intracranial course and how long is it?
CN IV- Trochlear
7.5 cm
Which superior oblique
does the right trochlear nucleus control?
Left superior oblique
The motor portion of CN V innervates what structues?
Muscles of mastication
Name the three sensory division of CN V and the
subdivision of CN V1?
V1 - ophthalmic (lacrimal, frontal, and nasociliary)
V2 - maxillary
V3 - mandibular
Other than the lateral rectus muscle,
what does CN VI (abducens) innervate?
Nothing
Where is the ciliary ganglion located?
Within the muscle cone,
1 cm in front of the annulus of Zinn, between the optic nerve and the lateral rectus muscle.
What are the three roots of the ciliary ganglion?
- Long (sensory) root
- Short (motor) root
- Sympathetic root
Discuss the long (sensory) root of the ciliary ganglion?
Arises from the nasociliary branch
of CN V and contains sensory fibers
from the cornea, iris, and ciliary body.
Discuss the short (motor) root
of the ciliary ganglion?
Arises from the inferior division of CN III, synapses in the ganglion, and carries parasympathetics to the iris sphincter and ciliary muscle.
Discuss the sympathetic root
of the ciliary ganglion?
Arises from the plexus around the internal carotid artery and innervates blood vessels of the eye and dilator fibers of the iris.
What three ganglions are represented
in the short ciliary nerve?
- Ciliary
- Superior cervical
- Trigeminal ganglion
What muscle does not originate
from the obital apex and
from which bone does it originate?
The inferior oblique originates from
the orbital plate of the maxilla.
What is the Spiral of Tillaux?
It is the shape formed by the
insertions of the rectus muscles -
5.5, 6.5, 6.9, 7.7 mm from the limbus
(medial, inferior, lateral, superior).
What is the blood supply
of the lateral rectus muscle?
Why is it unique?
A single branch of the lacrimal artery
supplies the lateral rectus making it the only extraocular muscle supplied by only one vessel.
Which two muscles receive
blood supply from the infraorbital artery?
- Inferior oblique
- Inferior rectus
What are the names of the two groups
of fibers that make up the eye muscles and what are their differences?
Fibrillenstruktur- fast or twitch movements, individual neuromuscular junctions, no acetylcholine receptors
Felderstruktur- slow or tonic movement, multiple neuromuscular junctions, have acetylcholine receptors
What are the dimensions
of the normal adult palpebral fissure?
2.7 - 3.0 cm in width
by 0.8 -1.1 cm in height
How far can a normal
levator muscle raise the upper eyelid?
1.5 cm
How much elevation can the frontalis muscle add to levator function?
2 mm
Name the muscle responsible
and the clinical feature of the palebral
fissure change that occurs
in hyperthyroidism?
Muller’s muscle- retraction
Name the muscle responsible
and the clinical feature
of the palebral fissure change
that occurs in Horner Syndrome?
Muller’s muscle- ptosis
Name the muscle responsible and
the clinical feature of the
palebral fissure change that occurs
in facial palsy (e.g. Bell’s Palsy)?
Orbicularis oculi- lagophthalmos
Name the muscle responsible
and the clinical feature of the
palebral fissure change that
occurs in Third nerve palsy?
Levator- ptosis
What is the antagonist muscle of the levator?
Orbicularis oculi
What is special about
the skin of the eyelid?
It is the thinnest in the body
and has no subcutaneous fat.
Where does the levator aponeurosis
form its firmest attachments?
On the anterior surface
of the superior tarsus,
3mm superior to the lid margin
What is the name for the most
superficial portion of the orbicularis oculi?
Gray line-
a.k.a. the muscle of Riolan
Where are the eyelashes and
meibomian gland orifices found on the
lid margin in relation to the gray line?
Eyelashes arise anterior to the gray line
Meibomian gland orifices open posterior
Name the respective
secretion and location of
the Glands of Moll?
Aprocrine glands found
in the lid
Name the respective
secretion and location of
the Lacrimal Glands?
Eccrine glands located in the
superior lateral orbit and lid
Name the respective
secretion and location of
the glands of Krause and Wolfring?
Eccrine glands glands located in
the plica, caruncle, and lid
Name the respective
secretion and location of
the Meibomian Glands?
Holocrine glands located in the
tarus
Name the respective
secretion and location of
the Glands of Zeis?
Holocrine glands located in the
hair follicles, caruncle, and lids
Name the respective
secretion and location of
the Goblet Cells?
Holocrine glands located in the
conjunctiva, plica, and caruncle
Describe the anatomic
and functional components of the
orbicularis oculi muscle?
Orbital- voluntary closure
Palpebral (preseptal & pretarsal)-
voluntary & involuntary (blinking)
What is the orbital septum
an extension of?
Periosteum of the
roof and floor of the orbit
What is found just posterior
to the orbital septum?
Orbital fat
What is an important clinically distinction
found in orbital, but not
preseptal cellulitis?
Pain with EOM
What happens to the
levator muscle when it reaches
Whitnall’s ligament?
It turns from a horizontal to a
vertical direction and divides
anteriorly into the levator aponeurosis
and posteriorly into Muller’s muscle.
What forms Whitnall’s ligament?
A condensation of tissue
surrounding the superior rectus
and levator muscles
What is the tarsus composed of?
Dense connective tissue,
not cartilage.
What are the dimensions
of the upper and lower tarsal plates?
Upper- 29 x 1 x 11 mm
Lower- 29 x 1 x 4 mm
What is the name for misdirection
of the orientation of the eyelashes?
Trichiasis
What is the name for aberrant
growth of eyelashes through
the meibomian gland orifices?
Distichiasis
What type of muscle is
Muller’s muscle and
how is it innervated?
Smooth muscle that is
sympathetically innervated
What type of epithelium
covers the conjunctiva?
Nonkeratinized
squamous epithelium
What types of blood cells can
be found in the substantia propria
of the conjunctiva?
Lymphocytes, macrophages,
mast cells, and plasma cells
Where are goblet cells most
concentrated in the conjunctiva?
Inferior and medial conjunctiva,
plica semilunaris, and caruncle.
Where in the conjunctiva
can we find no goblet cells?
In the limbal region
What structure is fused with the
conjunctiva for ~2mm posterior to
the limbus?
Tenon’s capsule
What two main arteries supply
the eyelids?
External carotid
via the facial artery
Internal carotid via
branches of the ophthalmic artery
What are the two portions of the
venous drainage of the eyelids and
into what structures do they drain?
Pretarsal drains into the internal
and external jugular veins
Posttarsal drains into the cavernous sinus
Where are lymphatic found in the
orbit and to what nodes do they drain?
Conjunctiva paralleling vessels.
They drain into preauricular
and submandibular lymph nodes.
What is the name for the vestigial
structures in the eyelids that is
analogous to the nictitating
membrane of lower animals?
Plica semilunaris
What divides the lacrimal gland
into two parts?
The lateral expansion of the
levator aponeurosis.
Why do we biopsy the orbital portion
of the lacrimal gland when
biospy is needed?
To avoid sacrificing the excretory
ducts the pass through the
palpebral portion of the gland.
Where do the excretory ducts of
the lacrimal gland empty?
In the superior fornix
approximately 5 mm above the
superior border of the tarus.
When measuring basal tear secretion
(Schirmer’s test with anesthesia),
what glands are we testing?
Accessory lacrimal glands of
Krause and Wolfing
Remember the lacrimal gland
is responsible for reflex tearing,
and its contribution is removed
with the use of topical anesthetic.
In what percent of the population
do the two canliculi join to form
a common canaliculus?
90%- the other 10% have
two openings into their
lacrimal sac.
What percent of full term neonates
are born with a closed
nasolacrimal duct?
30%- most resolve spontaneously
with 6 months.
What structures penetrate
Tenon’s capsule?
- Optic nerve
- Posterior cililary nerves
- Posterior ciliary vessels
- Vortex vessels
The fusion of the sheaths
of the inferior rectus muscle,
the inferior tarsal muscle, and
the check ligaments of the
medial and lateral rectus muscles
form what structure?
The suspensory ligament
of the globe. Also known as
Lockwood’s ligament.