Lecture 16 - Anatomy of the eye Flashcards
Orbital cavity borders
roof : anterior cranial fossa
floor : maxilla
Medial wall : ethmoid and lacrimal bone
Lateral wall : maxillary
Orbit
Protects and contains the eyeball, muscles, nerves and vessels + most lacrimal apparatus
Holes in the orbit
Superior orbital fissure - CN III, IV, Va, VI and superior opthalmic vein
Optic canal - optic nerve and opthalmic artery
Inferior orbital fissue - Vb branch and inferior opthalmic vein
Lacrimal fossa
Blood supply of orbit
Artery: opthalmic artery branches (from ICA)
Vein: Inferior and superior opthalmic veins which drain into the cavernous and pterygoid plexus and facial vein
Innervation to orbit
General sensory: Va (including cornea and conjunctiva)
Motor of eye: CN III, IV, VI
Special sensory: CN II
Weakest parts of orbit
The inferior and medial walls are the weakest (maxillary and ethmoid bone)
Most prone to fracture as thin due to sinuses
Orbital blow out fracture
Sudden increase in intra-orbital pressure fractures the floor of the orbit
Maxillary sinus fills with blood
Fracture site can trap tissues, fat and muscles located near the orbital floor
Prevents upward gaze on affected side as tethered
Presentation of orbital blow out fracture
- History of trauma to orbit
- Periorbital swelling
- Pain
- Diplopia
- Numbness over cheek, lower eyelid and upper lip, teeth and gums (due to infraorbital nerve and superior alveolar nerve lesion Vb)
Eyelid
Consists of:
- Skin
- tarsal plate
- subcutaneous tissue
- muscles - levator palpebrae superioris and obicularis oculi
- Levator aponeurosis attaches to tarsal plate
- Melbomian glands
- Sebaceous glands
Orbicularis oculi
Closes eyelid
Innervated by facial nerve
If CN VII lesion: Lagophthalmos
Levator palpebrae superioris
Opens eyelid
Innervated by occulomotor nerve
Lesion causes complete ptosis
[Superior tarsal muscle innervated by sympathetics can cause partial ptosis if disrupted]
Meibomian glands
Secrete oily, lipid rich tear fluid on to the edges of the eyelid.
Prevents evaporation of tear film and tear spillage
Stye
Blockage or infection (staph) of sebaceous gland or hair follicle on outer part of the eyelid where follicles are found
Painful
Meibomian cyst
Block meibomian cyst
Oily secretions build up
Deeper
Blepharitis
Inflammation of eye lids, including the skin, lashes and meibomian glands.
Can crust around edges
Foreign body sensation
Orbital septum
Thin sheet of fibrous tissue originating from the orbital rim periosteum blending into the tarsal plate
Separates subcutaneous tissue and the orbicularis oculi from intra-orbital contents.
Tarsal plate
Dense bands of connective tissue
Strengthens and gives shape to the eyelid
Contains meibomian glands
Periorbital cellulitis
Infection occuring within eyelid tissue, superficial to the orbital septum
Secondary to superficial infections e.g. via bites or wounds or bacterial sinusitis (fronto-ethmoidal sinuses in children)
Ocular function unaffected
Orbital cellulitis
Infection within the orbit deep to the orbital septum
More serious as can spread intracranially via the cavernous or pterygoid plexus causing meningitis ad venous thrombosis
Hard to distinguish between peri-orbital cellulitis
Presentation:
- proptosis
- exopthalmos
- reduced eye movements
- reduced visual acuity
- +/- pain eye movements
Treat with IV antibiotics and drainage
Lacrimal apparatus
Lacrimal gland - tear production
Lacrimal sac
Lacrimal ducts and nasolacrimal duct - drains tears into nasal cavity
Epiphora
Overflow of tears due to duct obstruction
Blinking
Due to orbital part of orbicularis oculi innervated by the facial nerve
Covers eye in tear film lubricating fluid which rinses the eye, conjuctiva and cornea and sweeps dust
Layers of the eyball
Outer - Sclera (white) and cornea anteriorly (transparent)
Middle (uvea): Iris, choroid and ciliary body
Inner - retina containing rod and cone cells
How is the eyeball position maintained?
By suspensory ligaments
Extra-ocular muscles
Fat
Lacrimal gland
Secretes lacrimal fluid (tears)
Under parasympathetic innervation via the facial nerve greater pertrosal
Lies in fossa on the superolateral orbit