The Orbit and Eye Flashcards
Eye-
Eye- eyeball and optic nerve
Orbit-
Orbit- eyeball and its accessory visual structures
Orbital region-
Orbital region- area of the face overlying the orbit and eyeball and includes the upper and lower eyelids and lacrimal apparatus
What are orbits?
- bilateral bony cavities in the facial skeleton that resemble hollow, quadrangular pyramids
Orbits
o Their bases directed __________
o Their apices directed _________
o The _____ walls are near parallel
o _______ walls are at right angles
o The axes of the orbits diverge at ____
anterolaterally
posteromedially
medial
Lateral
45°
Contents of the orbit and the anterior orbital region: (7)
o eyeballs
o accessory visual structures:
- Eyelids
- Extra-ocular muscles
- Nerves and vessels to eyeballs and muscles
- Orbital fascia surrounding eyeballs and muscles
- Mucous membrane (conjunctiva)
o Orbital fat- fills all space within orbits not occupied by the above structures
Boundaries of the orbit: (6)
- Base
- Superior wall
- Inferior wall (floor)
- Lateral wall
- Medial wall
- Apex
Boundaries of the orbit:
1. Base: (2)
- Outlined by the orbital margin
- Provides attachment for the orbital septum (fibrous membrane that extends into the eyelids)
Boundaries of the orbit:
2. Superior wall: (4)
- Formed by the orbital part of the frontal bone
- Separates the orbital cavity from the anterior cranial fossa
- Near the apex (posteriorly)- the superior wall is form by lesser wing of sphenoid
- Fossa for lacrimal gland- shallow depression anterolaterally in the frontal bone
Boundaries of the orbit:
3. Inferior wall (floor): (4)
- Mainly formed by maxilla and partly by zygomatic and palatine bones
- Slants inferiorly from the apex to the inferior orbital margin
- Demarcated from the lateral wall by inferior orbital fissure
- Inferior orbital fissure- gap between maxilla and sphenoid
Boundaries of the orbit:
4. Lateral wall: (3)
- Formed by the frontal process of the zygomatic bone and greater wing of sphenoid
- Strongest and thickest of the walls
- Posterior part separates it from the temporal and middle cranial fossae
Boundaries of the orbit:
5. Medial wall: (5)
- Formed primarily by the orbital plate of the ethmoid bone
- Frontal process of maxilla, lacrimal and sphenoid bones contribute
- Anteriorly- lacrimal groove and fossa for lacrimal sac
- Superiorly- trochlea for the tendon of a muscle
- Very thin
Boundaries of the orbit:
6. Apex:
- At the optic canal in the lesser wing of sphenoid just medial to the superior orbital fissure
Periorbita
* Lines the bones forming the orbit and is continuous with: (5)
o Dura mater at the optic canal and superior orbital fissure
o Pericranium over the orbital margins and through the inferior orbital fissure
o Orbital septa at the orbital margins
o Fascial sheaths of the extra-ocular muscles
o Orbital fascia that forms the fascial sheath of the eyeball
What are the eyelids?
Moveable folds that cover the eyeball anteriorly
What are the functions of the eyelids? (2)
o Protects the eye from injury and excessive light
o Keep the cornea moist by spreading lacrimal fluid
- Junctions of the ______ and _____ eyelids make up the medial and lateral palpebral commissures
- Covered externally by skin and internally by the ______ ________
- Palpebral conjunctiva is reflected onto the eyeball, where it is continuous with the _______ conjunctiva
superior and inferior
palpebral conjunctiva
bulbar
Bulbar conjunctiva: (3)
o Thin, transparent and loosely attached to the anterior surface of the eyeball
o Adherent to the periphery of the cornea
o Lines of reflection of the palpebral conjunctiva onto the eyeball are called the superior and
inferior conjunctival fornices
Conjunctival sac: (2)
o Space between the palpebral and bulbar conjunctivae
o Allows the eyelids to move freely over the surface of the eyeball
Superior and inferior tarsi: (3)
o Dense bands of connective tissue that strengthen the superior and inferior eyelids
o Palpebral part of orbicularis oculi is in the connective tissue superficial to the tarsi
o Tarsal glands embedded produce a lipid secretion that lubricates the edges of the eyelids to prevent them from sticking together when they close
Eyelashes: (2)
o In the margins of the eyelids
o Ciliary glands- large sebaceous glands associated with the eyelashes
Medial palpebral ligament: (3)
o Between the medial angle of the eye and the nose
o Connects the tarsi to the medial margin of the orbit
o Orbicularis oculi originates from and inserts onto this ligament
Lateral palpebral ligament:
o Attaches the tarsi to the lateral margin of the orbit
Orbital septum: (3)
o Fibrous membrane that spans from the tarsi to the margins of the orbit
o Becomes continuous with the periosteum
o Keeps the orbital fat contained
What does the lacrimal gland secrete?
Secrets lacrimal fluid
What is the function of lacrimal fluid? (3)
- Watery physiological saline containing the bactericidal enzyme lysozyme
- Moistens and lubricates the surfaces of the conjunctiva and cornea
- Provides nutrients and dissolved oxygen to the cornea
How is the Lacrimal gland divided?
o Divided into a superior orbital part and an inferior palpebral part by the lateral expansion of the
tendon of the levator palpebrae superioris
How is lacrimal fluid produced?
o Lacrimal fluid production is stimulated by parasympathetic impulses from facial nerve
- Excretory ducts of lacrimal gland:
o Convey lacrimal fluid from the lacrimal glands to the conjunctival sac
- Lacrimal canaliculi:
o Begin at lacrimal punctum on the lacrimal papilla near the medial angle of the eye and drain lacrimal fluid from the lacrimal lake to the lacrimal sac
- Nasolacrimal duct:
o Conveys lacrimal fluid to the inferior nasal meatus
Innervation of lacrimal gland:
Eyeball proper:
o Fibrous layer-
o Vascular layer-
o Inner layer of the eyeball-
o Fibrous layer- sclera and cornea
o Vascular layer- choroid, ciliary body and iris
o Inner layer of the eyeball- retina with optic and nonvisual parts
A connective tissue layer surrounds the eyeball. What does it consist of?
o Composed posteriorly by the fascial sheath of the eyeball (forming the actual socket of the
eyeball) and anteriorly by the bulbar conjunctiva
What is the episcleral space? (2)
- Potential space between the fascial sheath and the outer eyeball
- Allows for movement of the eyeball within the fascial sheath
What is the function of the fibrous layer?
o Provides shape and resistance
What is the sclera? (3)
- Tough opaque part of the fibrous layer covering the poster 5/6 of the eyeball
- Provides attachment for both extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the eye
- Relatively avascular
What is the cornea? (4)
- Transparent part of the fibrous layer covering the anterior 1/6 of the eyeball
- Convexity of the cornea is greater than that of the sclera
- Appears to protrude from the eyeball when viewed laterally
- Completely avascular- relies on lacrimal fluid and aqueous humor for nourishment
How is the cornea innervated?
- Innervated by ophthalmic nerve- sensitive to touch