L20: Anatomy of the orbit and eye Flashcards
What is the shape of the orbital cavity and what is found within it?
Pyramidal shape with apex pointing posteriorly
(lateral and medial wall, roof and floor)
-eye, extra-occular eye muscles, lacrimal apparatus, fat, nerves, blood vessels
What openings are found in the orbital cavity?
-superior orbital fissure
-inferior orbital fissure
-optic canal
(lacrimal fossa- where the lacrimal sac sits)
(infra-orbital foramen beneath the orbital cavity- infra-orabital nerve of the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve)
What bones make up the floor/medial aspect of the orbital cavity?
Maxilla
Ethmoid bone
Lacrimal bone
(site of fracture)
What structures run through the openings in the orbital cavity?
- opthalmic artery runs along with the optic nerve
- the opthalmic artery gives off a branch called the central retinal artery (optic canal)
- superior/inferior opthalmic veins which drain venous blood into the cavernous sinus, pterygoid plexus and facial vein: these exit via the superior/inferior fissures
- special sensory vision from retina via the optic nerve
- general sensory from the eye via the opthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve
- motor nerves to muscle CN3/4/6
What is found within the maxillary/ethmoid bone?
Maxillary sinus (air filled)
Series of air filled cavities
These are collectively known as paranasal air sinuses
Are the orbit and nasal cavity linked?
Nasolacrimal duct- connection via a bony channel from medial angle of the orbit to the nasal cavity
What are some implications due to the air sinuses and the nasolacrimal duct?
Implications for orbital trauma and spread of infection
What are the weakest parts of the orbital cavity?
Medial wall and floor of the orbit
What is an orbital blow out fracture?
- sudden increase in intra-orbital pressure, from retropulsion of the eye ball, which fractures the floor of the orbital cavity
- orbital contents can prolapse and bleed into the maxillary sinus
- fracture site can trap structures (soft tissue/extra-occular muscle)
- prevents upward gaze of affected side due to muscles being trapped
What are the signs and symptoms of a blow out fracture?
- history of trauma to the eye/orbit
- periorbital swelling/pain
- double vision (worse on vertical gaze)
- numbness over cheek, lower eyelid and upper lip/teeth/gums on affected side (due to infraorbital nerve lesion- cutaneous branch)
What does the eyelid consist of?
-skin
-subcutaneous tissue
-tarsal plate (connective tissue structure helping to give shape to the eyelid)
Muscles
-orbicularis oculi-palpebral part: supplied by facial nerve and through constriction it closes the eyelid
-levator palpebrae superioris (becomes slightly apeneurotic), which contracts and elevates the eyelid and is innervated by oculomotor nerve
-superior tarsal muscle (sympathetic innervation which elevates the lid)
Glands
-meibomian glands (found within the tarsal plate)
-sebaceous glands (associated with eyelash follicle)
What is a sty?
Superficial lump that has a white centre
- painful (can affect lower eyelid as well)
- blockage of the sebaceous glands
- often due to staphylococcus infection
What is a chalazian?
Meibomian gland cyst (blockage)
- painless
- more deep
- gradually get bigger
- not caused by infection
What is blepharitis?
Blockage of sebaceous glands along the whole eyelid
- doesn’t present as a single lump
- inflammation of the lids
What is the function of the meibomian cyst?
Oily (lipid rich) substance onto lid edges, prevents evaporation of tear film and tear spillage
What is the orbital septum?
Thin sheet of fibrous tissue that originates from the orbital rim periosteum and blends with the tarsal plates
- has a fissure (opening of the eye)
- orbital septum and tarsal plates separate subcutaneous tissue of eyelid and orbicularis oculi muscle from intra-orbital contents
What is the functon of the orbital septum?
Acts as a barrier: prevent infection in skin (superficial infection) from travelling deeper
What is periorbital (pre-septal) cellulitis?
Infection occuring within the eyelid tissue, superficial to the orbital septum
- inflammation of skin
- secondary to superficial infections (bites/wounds)
- more common in children
- ocular function remains unaffected
- can be difficult to differentiate b/w peri-orbital and more severe orbital cellulitis but if in any doubt, urgently refer and give high dose IV antibiotics and surgical drainage
What is orbital (post-septal) cellulitis?
Infection within the orbit, posterior to the orbital septum
- can arise from pre-septal cellulitis
- more commonly arised from infection spread from the paranasal air sinuses (sinusitis)
- damages orbital contents
What are the signs and symptoms of orbital cellulitis?
- reduced visual acuity
- reduced +/- painful eye movements
- proptosis (eye pushed forward): makes it hard to differentiate b/w periorbital as it is similar to the inflammation seen there (due to increased pressure)
Where do the superior and inferior optic veins drain into?
Cavernous sinus (so infection can spread to intracranial structures e.g. cavernous sinus thrombosis/meningitis)
What are the contents of the orbital cavity?
- nerves and blood vessels
- lots of fat
- lacrimal apparatus
- eyeball
- extra-ocular muscles
What is the tear film and lacrimal apparatus?
All the structures involved in tear film production and drainage
- tear film ensures the anterior surface of the eye is kept lubricated and protects
- blinking distributes tear film, rinsing and lubricating conjuctivae and cornea (from lateral to medial)
- once it reaches the medial aspect, it drains out via the lacrimal canaliculus
- the canaliculus drains into the lacrimal sac, then through the nasolacrimal duct, into the nasal cavity
What does the tear film consists of?
3 layers: oily, water, mucus
- meibomian glands
- lacrimal gland
- goblet cells in conjunctiva (conjunctiva is a transparent membrane found over the surface of the anterior eye)
What is epiphora?
Overflow of tears over the lower eyelid due to obstruction of the lacrimal apparatus
What is the anatomy of the eyeball?
Doesn't touch the orbital edges Eyeball is maintained in position by: -suspensory ligament (runs from lateral to medial, suspending the eyeball underneath like a sling) -extra-ocular muscles -orbital fat++
What are the 3 layers of the globe of the eye?
- Outer: sclera (usually white, except when it comes anterior, it becomes transparent and is known as the cornea)
- Middle: choroid (vascular to help supply the retina, continuous with the ciliary body: consists of ciliary muscles and processes-alters thickness of lens, it is also continuous with the iris)
- Inner: retina (photosensitive, contain retinal ganglion cells which convey AP’s out of back of eye via optic nerve)
What is the iris?
Muscular diaphragm with a central apperture which is the pupil
-the sphincter and dilator pupillae lie here
What is the uveal tract?
Chorois, ciliary body and iris
- can get get inflammtion of this: uveitis (anything that moves the iris- response to light intensity- causes pain)
- iritis (anterior uveitis) is a painful red eye which is photosensitive
What is the macula?
Area of back of eye which is responsible for highest acuity vision, colour
- high proportion of cones (colour photoreceptors)
- at tip of macula there is a central depression called the fovea- where the light will hopefully hit, and it this thinnest part of the retina so light doesn’t have to travel a far distance before reaching the cones