The Orbit and the Eye Flashcards
describe the general structure of the bony orbit?
pyramidal structure
what forms the peak at the top of the pyramid?
optic canal (at the back in the middle)
what forms the roof of the bony orbit?
frontal bone
what forms the medial wall of the bony orbit?
ethmoid frontal lacrimal maxilla components of each
what forms the floor of the bony orbit?
mainly maxilla
what forms the lateral wall of the bony orbit?
zygomatic
sphenoid
which walls of the bony orbit are most likely to fracture and why
medial and inferior walls
very thin
what structures are in place to protect the eye when subjected to a direct blow?
eyes are deep set
frontal, zygomatic, nasal bones etc all sit further out than the eye
orbital rim is thick and strong to resist fracture
what is an orbital blow out and what can happen with this?
direct blow to the eye in between the bones of the orbit
increases the pressure in the eye
this increased pressure can cause walls to fracture and the contents of the eye to protrude through
can cause damage to nerves (e.g infraorbital NVB)
how can an orbital blowout cause sensory deficit in the face?
infraorbital NVB passes through the infraorbital foramen and then out through the maxilla to provide sensory innervation to the face
blowout fracture damaging the orbital floor can therefore cause sensory damage in the face
what are the 4 components of the eyelid?
outer skin
inner conjunctiva
eyelashes
glands
what is contained within the eyelids?
tarsal plate
orbicularis oculi
levator palpebrae superioris
what does the tarsal plate do?
maintains shape
contains meibomian glands which secrete lipids
which nerve innervates the orbicularis oculi muscle in the eyelid?
CN VII (facial nerve)
what does the levator palpebrae superioris do and which nerve innervates it?
opens the upper eyelid
innervated by CN III
what can cause ptosis and why?
CN III palsy as CN III innervated levator palpebrae superioris
what does the orbicularis oculi muscle do?
surrounds the eye
contraction closes the eye
describe the surface anatomy of the eye
white sclera (covered by conjunctiva)
iris (covered by cornea)
- sclera and cornea are continuous and iris sits deep to these
limbus = corneoscleral junction (junction between cornea and sclera)
lacrimal glands in the upper lateral quadrant
what is conjunctiva?
defensive barrier to small foreign objects (dust, insects etc)