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Eyelid Anatomy
Author: Bhupendra Patel, MD, FRCS; Chief Editor: Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA more...
Updated: Jun 17, 2013
Overview
The eyelids act to protect the anterior surface of the globe from local injury. Additionally,
they aid in regulation of light reaching the eye; in tear film maintenance, by distributing the
protective and optically important tear film over the cornea during blinking; and in tear flow,
by their pumping action on the conjunctival sac and lacrimal sac.
Structures that must be considered in a description of lid anatomy are the skin and
subcutaneous tissue; the orbicularis oculi muscle (shown below); the submuscular areolar
tissue; the fibrous layer, consisting of the tarsi and the orbital septum; the lid retractors of
the upper and lower eyelids; the retroseptal fat pads; and the conjunctiva.
Orbicularis oculi muscle anatomy. (A) Frontalis, (B) corrugator superciliaris, (C) procerus, (D) orbital orbicularis, (E)
preseptal orbicularis, (F) pretarsal orbicularis.
The anatomy of the lid is best approached initially by reviewing a sagittal cross section of
the eyelid. The exact number of tissue layers and the relationship between the many layers
are modified significantly by the level of the lid examined. The orbital septum represents
the anatomic boundary between the lid tissue and the orbital tissue, but an assessment of
eyelid function and preparation for lid surgery requires knowledge of these postseptal
structures. The upper and lower lids may be considered analogous structures, with
differences mainly in the lid retractor arrangement.[1]
In eyelid reconstruction, it is more practical to consider the repair of the anterior and
posterior lamellae, with the anterior lamella being the skin and orbicularis, and the posterior
lamella being the tarsus and conjunctiva.
For patient education information, see the Eye and Vision Center, as well as Anatomy of the
Eye.
Surface Anatomy
The upper eyelid extends superiorly to the eyebrow, which separates it from the forehead.
The lower lid extends below the inferior orbital rim to join the cheek, forming folds where
the loose connective tissue of the eyelid is juxtaposed with the denser tissue of the cheek.
(See the images below.)
The upper eyelid skin crease (superior palpebral sulcus) is approximately 8-11 mm superior
to the eyelid margin and is formed by the attachment of the superficial insertion of levator
aponeurotic fibers (8-9 mm in men and 9-11 mm in women). The inferior eyelid fold (inferior
palpebral sulcus), which is seen more frequently in children, runs from 3 mm inferior to the
medial lower lid margin to 5 mm inferior to the lateral lid margin.
The nasojugal fold runs inferiorly and laterally from the inner canthal region along the
depression of separation of the orbicularis oculi and the levator labii superioris, forming the
tear trough. The malar fold runs inferiorly and medially from the outer canthus toward the
inferior aspect of the nasojugal fold.
The open eye presents the palpebral fissure, a fusiform space between the lid margins that
is 28-30 mm in length and about 9 mm in maximal height. The natural curvature of the
upper lid is a function of the static shape of the tarsus combined with adaptation of the lid
to the curvature of the globe.
In the normal adult fissure, the highest point of the upper lid is just nasal to the center of
the pupil, while the lowest point of the lower lid is just temporal to the center of the pupil. In
youths, the upper lid margin rests at the upper limbus, while in adults, it rests 1.5 mm below
the limbus. The lower eyelid margin rests at the level of the lower limbus. The lateral
canthal angle is 2 mm higher than the medial canthal angle in Europeans; it is 3 mm higher
in Asians. The distance from the medial canthus to the midline of the nose is approximately
15 mm. (See the image below.)
Medial canthus.
The palpebral fissure presents the lateral canthus (an angle of 30-40 approximately 5 mm
from the lateral orbital rim), the medial canthus (forming the medial angle of the fissure,
with the upper border passing inferomedially and the lower border passing horizontally),
and the lacrimal papillae, which rest on the free lid margin, with the punctum lacrimale
serving as an opening to the canaliculus.
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue
The skin of the eyelids is the thinnest of the body (< 1 mm). The nasal portion of the eyelid
skin has finer hairs and more sebaceous glands than the temporal aspect, making this skin
smoother and oilier. The transition from this thin eyelid skin to the thicker skin of the
eyebrow (approximately 10 mm below the lower eyebrow hairs) and the cheek skin (below
the nasojugal and malar folds) is clinically evident. These boundaries should be considered
in reconstructive eyelid surgery. The subcutaneous tissue consists of loose connective
tissue.
Fat is very sparse in preseptal and preorbital skin and is absent from pretarsal skin.
Subcutaneous tissue is absent over the medial and lateral palpebral ligaments, where the
skin adheres to the underlying fibrous tissue. Dermatochalasis, blepharochalasis, and
epicanthic folds all are conditions that primarily involve the skin and subcutaneous tissue
of the eyelids.
The orbicularis oculi muscle is one of the superficial muscles of facial expression. Invested
by the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), muscle contracture is translated
into movement of the overlying tissues by the fibrous septa extending from the SMAS into
the dermis.
The muscle may be arbitrarily divided into the orbital and palpebral parts, with the latter
being divided further into the preseptal and pretarsal portions. The palpebral portion is
used in blinking and voluntary winking, while the orbital portion is used in forced closure.
Facial nerve innervation is from the temporal branches and from zygomatic branches of
the facial nerve. The nerves are orientated horizontally and innervate the muscle from the
undersurface.
The orbital portion extends in a wide, circular fashion around the orbit, interdigitating with
other muscles of facial expression. It has a curved origin from the medial orbital margin,
being attached to the superomedial orbital margin, maxillary process of the frontal bone,
medial palpebral ligament, frontal process of the maxilla, and inferomedial orbital margin.
Fibers from this medial origin sweep around the orbital margin in a horseshoe fashion. The
muscle fibers extend superiorly to intermix with the frontalis muscle and corrugator
supercilii muscle, laterally to cover the anterior temporalis fascia, and inferiorly to cover the
origins of the lip elevators.
The preseptal orbicularis muscles overlie the orbital septum and take origin medially from a
superficial and deep head associated with the medial palpebral ligament. The fibers from
the upper and lower lid join laterally to form the lateral palpebral raphe, which is attached to
the overlying skin.
The pretarsal portion lies anterior to the tarsus, with a superficial and deep head of origin
intimately associated with the medial palpebral ligament. Fibers run horizontally and
laterally to run deep to the lateral palpebral raphe, to insert in the lateral orbital tubercle
Orbicularis
Oculi Muscleof the lateral canthal tendon (LCT).
through
the intermediary
Overview
Submuscular Areolar Tissue
Submuscular areolar tissue consists of variable, loose connective tissue below the
orbicularis oculi muscle. The lid may be split into anterior and posterior portions through
this potential plane, which is reached by division at the gray line of the lid margin. In the
upper lid, this plane is traversed by fibers of the levator aponeurosis, some of which pass
through the orbicularis to attach to the skin to form the lid crease. In the lower eyelid, this
plane is traversed by fibers of the orbitomalar ligament.
Superior continuance in this submuscular plane arrives at the retro-orbicularis oculi fat
(ROOF), which is best developed in the eyebrow region. Additionally, the suborbicularis
oculi fat (SOOF) is found in the lower lid in a continuance of this plane.
Tarsi and Orbital Septum
Tarsal plates
The tarsal plates are composed of dense fibrous tissue and are responsible for the
structural integrity of the lids. Each tarsus is approximately 29 mm long and 1 mm thick.
The crescentic superior tarsus is 10 mm in vertical height centrally, narrowing medially and
laterally. The lower border of the superior tarsus forms the posterior lid margin. The
rectangular inferior tarsus is 3.5-5 mm high at the eyelid center. The posterior surfaces of
the tarsi adhere to conjunctivae.
Each tarsus encloses about 25 sebaceous meibomian glands, which span the vertical
height of the tarsus. Their ducts open at the lid margin posterior to the grey line and just
anterior to the mucocutaneous junction. The medial and lateral ends of the tarsi are
attached to the orbital rims by the medial and lateral palpebral ligaments.
Medial palpebral ligament
The medial palpebral ligament (medial canthal tendon [MCT]) is a fibrous band stabilizing
the medial tarsi and is intricately related with the orbicularis oculi muscle and the lacrimal
system. The superficial head of the pretarsal orbicularis muscle lies anterior to the
canaliculi and forms the anterior limb of the MCT. This head is primarily horizontal but also
has a superior supporting extension inserting onto the frontal bone. The deep head of the
pretarsal orbicularis muscle (also constituting the Horner muscle) inserts into the posterior
lacrimal crest and onto the fascia of the lacrimal sac.
The upper and lower lid preseptal orbicularis have a superficial head that inserts into and
augments the MCT and deep heads that insert into the lacrimal sac fascia. Thus, the
lacrimal sac, encased in fascia, is related anteriorly, laterally, and posteriorly to constituents
of the MCT and medially to the bony fossa of the lacrimal sac. (See the image below.)
retractor structures near the lid margins, thus acting as a diaphragm (that has been
reported to retain orbital contents). Although usually depicted diagrammatically as a
discrete layer immediately posterior to the orbicularis oculi muscle, the orbital septum is a
multilaminated structure that is part of the anterior orbital connective tissue framework.
The septum has a laxity consistent with the mobility of the eyelids.
Laterally, the septum is attached to the orbital margin, 1.5 mm in front of the lateral orbital
tubercle attachment of the lateral palpebral ligament. The Eisler fat pocket separates the
lateral palpebral ligament from the orbital septum. From there, the septum continues along
the superior orbital rim at the arcus marginalis. Superomedially, the septum bridges the
supraorbital groove, passes inferomedially anterior to the trochlea, and then follows the
posterior lacrimal crest. As it runs down the posterior lacrimal crest, it lies anterior to the
medial check ligament and posterior to the Horner muscle (and hence, behind the lacrimal
sac).
The line of attachment crosses the lacrimal sac fascia to reach the anterior lacrimal crest
at the level of the lacrimal tubercle. From there, it passes inferiorly down the anterior
lacrimal crest and laterally along the inferior orbital rim. A few millimeters lateral to the
zygomaticomaxillary suture, the attachment leaves the rim and lies several millimeters
from it on the facial aspect of the zygomatic bone, thus forming the fat-filled premarginal
recess of Eisler. The line of attachment then continues to again reach the lateral orbital rim,
just below the level of the Whitnall ligament.
Reid et al proposed the existence of a septal extension, from the line of fusion of the orbital
septum to the levator aponeurosis, extending caudally to cover the tarsal plate up to the
ciliary margin.[4] The septal extension acts as an adjunct to the levator aponeurosis;
recognition of this structure may be important to avoid relapse or complications in ptosis
repair and blepharoplasty.
The orbicularis retaining ligament
The orbicularis retaining ligament (also called the orbitomalar ligament or the orbicularis
retaining septum) attaches the orbicularis oculi to the inferior orbital rim; it is broader and
stronger inferolaterally than centrally. The expanded lateral end of the orbicularis retaining
ligament is continuous with the orbital thickening.
The orbital thickening is a fibrous fusion between the orbicularis fascia covering the
peripheral part of the orbicularis oculi, and the underlying deep fascia, ie, periosteum and
the deep temporalis fascia. The orbital thickening extends across the entire width of the
frontal process of zygomatic bone and onto the deep temporal fascia for a variable
distance.
With age, the retaining ligament becomes distended and thinned, with the changes being
greater centrally than laterally. During surgery, the detachment of the orbital thickening and
the lateral part of the retaining ligament will completely release the superficial fascia from
the orbital rim.
Eyelid Retractors
the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone. The levator muscle and superior rectus muscle share
a developmental origin and are connected by fibrous attachments. The LPS proceeds
anteriorly for 40 mm and ends in an aponeurosis approximately 10 mm behind the orbital
septum. The levator complex changes direction from a horizontal to a more vertical
direction at the superior transverse ligament (Whitnall ligament).
The superior transverse ligament lies near the junction of the muscular and aponeurotic
levator and represents an orbital fascial condensation spanning the anterosuperior orbit
between the trochlea and the lacrimal gland fascia. Variations in thickness and adherence
to the levator complex are evident. Thin fascial attachments lie between the superior
transverse ligament and superior orbital rim.
The levator aponeurosis spreads laterally and medially to form lateral and medial horns.
The medial horn attaches to the posterior lacrimal crest. The lateral horn divides the
lacrimal gland into orbital and palpebral lobes before attaching to the lateral retinaculum at
the lateral orbital tubercle. The aponeurosis fuses with the orbital septum prior to reaching
the level of the superior tarsal plate border. At the inferior edge of this fusion, some
aponeurotic fibers descend to insert into the lower third of the anterior surface of the tarsal
plate. An anterior extension from this fusion inserts into the pretarsal orbicularis oculi
muscle and overlying skin, forming the upper lid skin crease.
Kakizaki proposed that the levator aponeurosis consists of 2 layers, anterior and posterior,
which also contain smooth muscle in their proximal parts.[5] The anterior layer ends in the
junctional region with the orbital septum and pulls the preaponeurotic pad of fat in
conjunction with the orbital septum and the submuscular fibroadipose tissue. The posterior
layer is attached to the anterior inferior one-third of the tarsal plate. It thus regulates the
tension of the eyelid and the ordered movement of the lid.
Mller muscle is smooth muscle innervated by the sympathetic nervous system. Fibers
originate from the undersurface of the levator in the region of the aponeurotic muscle
junction, travel inferiorly between the levator aponeurosis and conjunctiva, and insert into
the superior margin of the tarsus. With age, fatty infiltration may occur, giving the muscle a
yellowish color.
Contrary to previous understanding, the Mller muscle may also be involved in thyroid eye
disease, by fibrosis and mast cell infiltration. The Mller muscle may function as a large,
serial muscle spindle. The stretching of the Mller muscle by the initial eye opening action
of the levator may initiate a reflex via the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus, which
subsequently is routed through the ipsilateral or bilateral levator muscle, evoking
involuntary tonic contraction to maintain an adequate visual field.
The peripheral vascular arcade of the upper eyelid lies adherent to the lower border of the
anterior surface of the Mller muscle, just above the upper border of the tarsus, and is
apparent during blepharoptosis surgery as a plane of dissection is created between the
levator aponeurosis and the Mller muscle. The action is to widen the palpebral fissure
with increased sympathetic tone. About 2 mm of ptosis is observed in Horner syndrome.
Sympathetically innervated smooth muscle fibers are also noted in the lower eyelid and
constitute the inferior tarsal muscle.
Lower lid retractors
The lower eyelid retractor is a fascial extension from the terminal muscle fibers and tendon
of the inferior rectus muscle, originating as the capsulopalpebral head. As it passes
anteriorly from its origin, it splits to envelop the inferior oblique muscle and reunites as the
inferior transverse ligament (Lockwood ligament). From there, the fascial tissue passes
anterosuperiorly as the capsulopalpebral fascia. The bulk of the capsulopalpebral fascia
inserts on the inferior border of the inferior tarsus. Fibers also pass forward, to unite with
the Tenon capsule, and to the inferior fornix conjunctiva, through orbital fat to the orbital
septum, and forward to the subcutaneous tissues forming the lower eyelid crease. The
orbital septum fuses with the capsulopalpebral fascia approximately 5 mm below the
inferior tarsal border.
The inferior tarsal muscle (Mller muscle) lies just posterior to the fascia and is intimate
with its structure. The sympathetically innervated smooth muscle fibers are first noted near
the origin of the capsulopalpebral head. The capsulopalpebral head splits into 2 portions to
pass around the inferior oblique muscle sheath; the portion beneath the muscle is thin and
devoid of smooth muscle, while the portion above is a much thicker fascial layer and
contains the smooth muscle fibers. As they continue to pass forward, the smooth muscle
fibers do not insert directly onto the inferior tarsal border but into the fascia several
millimeters below the tarsal border.
In the Asian lower lid, the line of fusion of the orbital septum to the capsulopalpebral fascia
is often higher, or indistinct, with anterior and superior orbital fat projection, and overriding
of the preseptal orbicularis oculi over the pretarsal orbicularis.[6]
Fat Pads
Upper eyelid preaponeurotic fat is found immediately posterior to the orbital septum and
anterior to the levator aponeurosis. A central fat pad and a medial fat pad are described in
the upper lid, while the lacrimal gland occupies the lateral compartment. The medial fat pad
usually is pale yellow or white and lies anterior to the levator aponeurosis extending
superomedial to the medial horn of the levator.
The central fat pad is yellow and broad. A portion of the lateral end of this pad surrounds
the medial aspect of the lacrimal gland. The lacrimal gland has a firm, pinkish, lobulated
structure, in contrast to the soft, yellow intraorbital fat. The lacrimal gland's anterior border
is normally just behind the orbital margin, but involutional changes may lead to prolapse
anteroinferiorly, which is prominent on external lid examination.
Three retroseptal fat pads are associated with the lower eyelid. The medial and central fat
pads are separated by the inferior oblique. However, an isthmus of fat generally lies
anterior to the muscle belly. The inferior oblique muscle takes a bony origin from a shallow
depression on the anteromedial orbital floor, directly posterior to the orbital margin and
lateral to the nasolacrimal canal.
The inferior oblique muscle courses posterolaterally, passing inferior to the inferior rectus
muscle, penetrating the Tenon capsule, and inserting onto the globe near the macula. Its
course makes it susceptible to injury during surgical dissection of the surrounding fat pads.
The medial and lateral fat pads are separated by the arcuate expansion, a fascial band
extending from the capsulopalpebral fascia to the inferolateral orbital rim. Notably, the
inferolateral orbital septum inserts 2 mm outside the orbital rim, creating the recess of
Eisner, allowing the lateral fat pad to just spill over the orbital rim.
Conjunctiva
Facelift Anatomy
Preblepharoplasty Facial Analysis
Lower Lid Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty
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