Orbit Flashcards
Which bones form the posterior, superior, inferior, medial, and lateral walls of the orbit?
Posterior wall - sphenoid bone
Superior wall - frontal bone
Inferior wall - maxillary and zygomatic bones
Medial wall - palatine, ethmoid and lacrimal bones
Lateral wall - zygomatic bone
From where in the skull do most structures enter the orbit? What are the two routes of entry?
Most structures enter from the middle cranial fossa through the optic canal and superior orbital fissure.
Which bone forms the optic canal? What runs through it?
The optic canal is in the base of the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone. The optic nerve (CN II) and the ophthalmic artery run through it.
Which bone forms the superior orbital fissure? What runs through it?
The fissure is between the greater and lesser wings of the sphenoid bone. CNs III, IV, V1, VI, and ophthalmic veins run through it.
The inferior orbital fissure is found between the ______ and ______ bones and it connects the ________ and ________ fossae with the orbit.
It is found between the sphenoid and maxillary bones and it connects both the pterygopalatine fossa and infratemporal fossa with the orbit.
What is a blowout fracture?
Fracture of the bones of the medial orbit (they are thin!) that allows for protrusion of orbital contents into the nasal cavity medially or maxillary sinus inferiorly.
Which cranial fossa is the orbit located above?
Anterior
What is the difference between sclera and conjunctiva?
Sclera is the white of the eye, conjunctiva is a membrane that covers the sclera and it produces mucus and tears.
What is found within the anterior chamber of the eye?
Aqueous humor
Name the three layers of the posterior 5/6 of the eye (the eye that doesn’t include the cornea, lens, ciliary body, and stuff) from outside to inside.
Sclera, choroid, retina
Cataracts are clouding of the _______.
cornea
What are tarsal plates?
Fibrous CT that makes up the “skeleton” of the eyelids.
Compare Meibomian glands to Glands of Zeis.
Meibomian glands are located on the backside of the eyelids deep to the tarsal plate. They make meibum - oil that prevents evaporation of the film of tears over the eyes.
Glands of Zeis are located on the tips of the eyelids. These sebaceous glands secrete oily stuff on to the eyelashes.
What causes dry eyes?
Dysfunction of Meibomian glands.
What does inflammation of Meibomian glands cause?
What does inflammation of Glands of Zeis cause?
Meibomian gland inflammation = internal stye aka chalazion.
Glands of Zeis inflammation = external stye aka hordeolum.
What is conjunctivitis? What is blepharitis?
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva from viral or bacterial infection or allergies.
Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids, usually caused by bacterial infection.
What is the lacrimal caruncle?
The funky looking thing at the medial angle of the eye that makes tears/mucus for lubrication.
What is the difference between bulbar conjunctiva and palpebral conjunctiva?
Bulbar is the part of the conjunctiva that covers the sclera and the palbebral conjunctiva is deep to the eyelids.
Tears produced by the lacrimal gland on the lateral side of the eye is swept to the medial side by the _______. How are the tears drained from the eye?
swept over by the eyelids.
Collected by puncta –> lacrimal canaliculi –> lacrimal sac –> lacrimal duct –> nasal cavity via inferior meatus.
Describe the pathway of innervation to the lacrimal gland.
Cell bodies in the superior salivaroty nucleus –> piggyback CN VII motor fibers through the facial canal –> split off anteriorly and meet up with the DEEP petrosal nerve (postganglionic sympathetic from the internal carotid a.), forming the vidian nerve –> through the vidian canal into the pterygopalatine fossa where parasympathetics from the greater petrosal synapse at the pterygopalatine ganglion –> postganglionic parasympathetic fibers hop on V1 and V2, then finally on the lacrimal nerve (V1) to the lacrimal gland.
Describe the pathway of sympathetic innervation to the lacrimal gland.
Cell bodies in spinal segments T1-T4 send fibers superiorly –> synapse at superior cervical ganglion –> hop on the internal carotid artery –> join the greater petrosal nerve to form the Vidian nerve –> vidian canal –> pterygopalatine fossa –> hop on V1 and V2 –> hop on lacrimal nerve to the lacrimal gland.
What does the lacrimal nerve (V1) do aside from giving autonomic fibers a ride to the lacrimal gland?
Sensory for the skin of the upper lateral eyelid
Does sympathetic innervation of the lacrimal gland have a large effect?
Not really, tears are good.
What is Tenon’s capsule? What lines the orbit?
A membrane that surrounds the back of the eye and optic nerve, separating them from the periorbital fat. Periorbital fascia lines the orbit and reflects over extraocular muscles.