Orbit Flashcards
What is the common fibrous ring?
the common origin of four of the extrinsic eye muscles
What are the four recti orbital muscles?
superior, medial, inferior, and lateral rectus muscles. These are arranged in a cone whose apex is the common tendinous ring
What is the orbit bound by?
the periorbita which is the periostium lining the orbit
What is the periorbita a continuation of?
the periosteum of the surrounding spaces (infratemporal fossa and middle cranial fossa).
The four muscles are invested in their own deep fascia and this forms what structure?
the muscular cone. This is not an official anatomical term but a concept that helps organize our understanding of the orbit.
Both compartments, i.e. the orbit exterior to and interior to the cone of muscles, are filled with what?
adipose tissue
What is the function of the fat inside and surrounding the muscular cone?
Fat at body temperature is an incompressible liquid that is responsible for maintaining the position of the eyeball anterior in the orbit against the rearward pull of the extrinsic eye muscles.
What does The suspensory ligament of the orbit do?
it suspends the globe (eyeball) in the orbit against the force of gravity. This and the medial and lateral ligaments are thickened fascia of the muscular cone.
Where is the orbitalis muscles located, what is its purpose, and what is it innervated by?
it plugs the gap left open in the posterior, inferior region of the orbit by the inferior orbital fissure in order to keep the fat of the orbit in place so that the eyes maintain their forward position in the orbit. it is a smooth muscle innervated by sympathetics
What muscles are located in the upper and lower eyelids?
the tarsal muscles which are innervated by sympathetics and contribute to being able to open and close the eyelids
What is the difference between the ptosis associated with the endophthalmia in Horner’s Syndrome and the ptosis associated with lesion to the obicularis oculi?
ptosis associated with obicularis coulee is caused by a lesion of CN VII, while Horner’s syndrome ptosis/drooping is caused by loss of sympathetic innervation to the superior and inferior palpebral muscles and tarsal plates of the eyelids (and to the head in general).
What are some of the symptoms of Horner’s syndrome?
(loss of sympathetic innervation to the head)
causes lack of sweating on the affected side of the head, pupil constriction, superior tarsal muscle and orbitalis are paralyzed, leading to dropping of the eyelids and endophthalmia
How does lack of lacrimal gland secretion cause vision loss?
lack of tears cause the eyes to become more opaque, leading to slow loss of vision
common in older people, bed ridden people
this is why the eyes are closed during surgery
Describe the route of tear drainage.
Tears are produced by the lacrimal gland in the upper lateral aspect of the orbit and drain into the conjunctive sac to the nasolacrimal duct located in the lacrimal bone located on the medial, inferior aspect of the orbit, which then drains to the inferior meatus
Describe the course of the superior and inferior oblique muscles.
The superior oblique m. courses anteriorly and hooks around the trochlea on the medial orbital wall a little anterior to the eyeball, then makes an almost 180 degree turn posteriorly to insert on the medial, superior side of the eyeball just medial or even partially underneath the superior rectus muscle in a slightly posterior position to the midline of the eyeball. Thus, contraction causes the eye to move down and lateral and also to perform intorsion.
The inferior oblique takes a horizontal course under the inferior aspect of the eye, coursing below the inferior rectus to insert on the lateral, slightly posterior aspect of the eyeball just inferior or even partially beneath the lateral rectus. Thus, contraction causes the eyeball to look lateral, up, and also to perform extorsion
What four nerves can be found inside the tendinous ring?
both divisions of CN III, CN VI, and the nasociliary n. of CN V1 all through the superior orbital fissure laterally on the posterior wall of the orbit and
CN II and the ophthalmic artery through the optic canal of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone more medially on the posterior wall
What structures pass through the superior orbital fissure just above, and lateral the tendinous ring?
A. Branches of V1: Frontal (superior to orbit) and lacrimal (lateral to orbit)
B. CN IV, which innervates the SO, which is outside the cone of muscles.
C. Superior ophthalmic vein
Below the tendinous ring through the superior orbital fissure is what structure?
the inferior ophthalmic vein
What bones make up the posterior wall of the orbit?
greater win of the sphenoid, front, ethmoid, lacrimal, palatine, maxilla
What structures do the superior and inferior ophthalmic veins connect?
the angular and facial veins and the cavernous sinus
What muscle does the frontal n. run on top of?
superior levator palpebral m.
What muscle does the lacrimal n. run on top of?
the lateral rectus
Where can the nasociliary n. be found coursing?
inside the muscular cone, so it will be seen underneath the superior rectus posteriorly and then will course medially on top of the medial rectus muscle where it gives off the anterior and posterior ethmoid branches
What artery follows a similar route to the nasociliary n.?
the ophthalmic artery
What does the trochlear n. innervate?
superior oblique. It is found superficial to the muscles of the tendinous ring
How does CN III course in the orbit and what does it innervate?
before entering the tendinous ring, CN III has already split into superior and inferior branches. The superior branch carries fibers to the levator palpebrae superioris and the superior rectus and the inferior branch carries fibers to the medial and inferior rectus and the inferior oblique and to the ciliary ganglion