Orbital septum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Orbital septum
Latin septum orbitale
Gray's subject #227 1026
Dorlands/Elsevier s_08/12730514

The orbital septum (palpebral ligament) is a membranous sheet that acts as the anterior boundary of the orbit. It extends from the orbital rims to the eyelids.

In the upper eyelid it blends with the tendon of the Levator palpebræ superioris, and in the lower eyelid with the tarsal plate.[1]

In some sources, the orbital septum refers to this sheet (here called the palpebral fascia) along with the tarsal plate. [2]

When the eye is closed, the whole orbital opening is covered by the septum. Medially it is thin, and, becoming separated from the medial palpebral ligament, attaches to the lacrimal bone at its posterior crest. The medial ligament and its much weaker lateral counterpart, attached to the septum and orbit, keep the lids stable as the eye moves. [3]

The septum is perforated by the vessels and nerves which pass from the orbital cavity to the face and scalp.

With age the septum may weaken, and as a result orbital fat may herniate forwards. The operation to correct this is called blepharoplasty.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Meyer DR, Linberg JV, Wobig JL, et al: Anatomy of the orbital septum and associated eyelid connective tissues. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg 7:104, 1991
  2. ^ "eye, human."Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica 2006 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD 5 Apr. 2008
  3. ^ Ibid

[edit] External links

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.


 This eye article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
v • d • e
Head and neck anatomy - accessory organs of the eye
General
Lacrimal apparatus