ANATOMY OF THE ORBIT

Joanne C. Concepcion, MD
Department of Ophthalmology

BONY ORBIT
BORDERS OF THE BONY ORBIT
Superior

Anterior cranial fossa

Medial

Nasal cavity
Ethmoidal air cells

Inferior

Maxillary sinus (antrum)

Lateral

Middle cranial fossa

Temporal fossa

BONY ORBIT
Socket for the eyeball, containing muscles,
nerves, fat and vessels
7 bones of the orbit
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Maxillary
Palatine
Frontal
Sphenoid
Zygomatic
Ethmoid
Lacrimal

BONY ORBIT
The bony orbit resembles a quadrilateral
pyramid
Base
Formed by the orbital margin
Directed forward, laterally, & slightly downward

Apex
Between the optic foramen & the medial end of
the superior orbital fissure

BONY ORBIT
The orbit is spheroidal
in form, developing
around the eye and
bulged out by the
lacrimal gland
The widest part is not
at the orbital margin
but 10-15mm behind
the anterior orbital rim

BONY ORBIT
ADULT ORBITAL DIMENSIONS
Volume

30cc

Entrance height

35mm

Entrance width

40mm

Medial wall length

45mm

Distance from the optic globe to optic foramen

18mm

Length of the orbital segment of the optic nerve

25mm

BONY ORBIT

WALLS OF THE ORBIT

ROOF OR VAULT OF THE ORBIT

Triangular formed by:
1. Frontal bone
2. Lesser wing of
sphenoid

Demarcations
1. Lateral

Frontozygomatic suture
Superior orbital fissure

2. Medial

Frontoethmoidal suture
Frontolacrimal suture
Frontomaxillary suture

ROOF
FrontLess

ROOF OR VAULT OF THE ORBIT

Landmarks
1. Lacrimal fossa

Concavity for the

lacrimal gland

2. Trochlear fossa

Houses trochlea for

SO muscle

3. Supraorbital notch

Supraorbital nerve &

vessels

MEDIAL WALL OF THE ORBIT

Lies parallel to the sagittal plane and to the
contralateral medial wall
THINNEST orbital wall

MEDIAL WALL OF THE ORBIT

smel
4 BONES OF THE
MEDIAL WALL:
1. Maxillary bone
(frontal process)
2. Lacrimal bone
THINNEST bone of
the orbit

3. Ethmoid bone
(orbital plate)
4. Sphenoid bone

FLOOR OF THE ORBIT

Triangular in shape
SHORTEST wall
BONES OF THE FLOOR
1. Maxilla

THINNEST bone of
the floor

2. Zygomatic
3. Palatine

FLOOR
mapz

LATERAL WALL OF THE ORBIT

Triangular in shape
THICKEST wall
Forms 45degree angle
with the sagittal plane
BONES OF THE LATERAL
WALL
1. Greater wing of the
sphenoid bone
2. Zygomatic bone
Great Zygoma

LATERAL WALL OF THE ORBIT

LANDMARKS
Frontozygomatic
suture
Superior orbital
fissure
Superior ophthalmic
vein

Inferior orbital fissure

Zygomatic nerve &
vessels

APERTURES IN THE ORBIT

1. Ethmoidal formina
2. Superior orbital
fissure
3. Inferior orbital
fissure
4. Zygomaticofacial and
zygomaticotemporal
canals
5. Nasolacrimal canal
6. Optical canal

APERTURES IN THE ORBIT

ETHMOIDAL FORAMINA
(anterior & posterior)
Contains anterior &
posterior ethmoidal
arteries
May provide a route of
entry for infection and
neoplasms from sinuses

APERTURES IN THE ORBIT

SUPERIOR ORBITAL FISSURE
Separates the greater &
lesser wings of the
sphenoid
Transmits:

CN III
CN IV
CN VI
CN V1 (ophthalmic)
Sympathetic nerve fibers
Superior ophthalmic vein

APERTURES IN THE ORBIT

INFERIOR ORBITAL FISSURE
Between the lateral wall and
orbital floor
Transmits:
CN V2 (maxillary)
Zygomatic nerve
Infraorbital nerve

Inferior ophthalmic vein

APERTURES IN THE ORBIT

ZYGOMATICOFACIAL &
ZYGOMATICOTEMPORAL
CANALS
Transmits vessels &
branches of the zygomatic
nerve to the lateral wall:
Zygomaticofacial
Zygomaticotemporal

APERTURES IN THE ORBIT

NASOLACRIMAL CANAL
Extends from the
lacrimal sac fossa to
the inferior meatus
Transmits the
nasolacrimal duct

APERTURES IN THE ORBIT

OPTIC CANAL
8-10mm long
Formed by the lesser
wing of sphenoid
Transmits:
Optic nerve
Ophthalmic artery
Sympathetic nerves

Orbital Soft Tissues

Periorbita
Periosteal covering
Fuses with dura at the orbital apex
Continuous with orbital septum and periosteum of facial
bones
ARCUS MARGINALIS
Fusion of layers at the rim

Adherent areas:

Orbital rim
Sutures
Fissures
Foramina
Canals

Orbital Soft Tissues

Orbital Septum
Orbital Fascia
EOMs
Annulus Of Zinn

ARTERIAL SUPPLY TO THE ORBIT

Arises primarily from
the OPHTHALMIC
ARTERY, a branch of
the INTERNAL
CAROTID ARTERY
Smaller contributions
from the EXTERNAL
CAROTID come from
the INTERNAL
MAXILLARY ARTERY &
FACIAL ARTERY

ARTERIAL SUPPLY TO THE ORBIT

MAJOR BRANCHES OF THE
OPHTHALMIC ARTERY
Branches to the extraocular
muscles
Central retinal artery
Supplies the optic nerve and
retina

Posterior ciliary arteries

Long posterior ciliary:
supplies the ANTERIOR
segment
Short posterior ciliary:
supplies the CHOROID

VENOUS DRAINAGE OF THE ORBIT

VENOUS DRAINAGE OF THE ORBIT

Superior ophthalmic
vein
Main venous
drainage of the orbit
Drains into
CAVERNOUS SINUS

Many venous
anastomoses drain
into PTERYGOID
PLEXUS

NERVES IN THE ORBIT

SENSORY INNERVATION CN V1, V2
Ophthalmic division (CN V1)
Frontal nerve
Supratrochlear nerve innervates medial canthus & upper lid
Supraorbital nerve innervates forehead

Lacrimal nerve innervates upper lid

Nasociliary nerve
Ciliary branches innervates iris, cornea, ciliary muscle

Maxillary division (CN V2)

Infraorbital nerve innervates the lower lid, cheek, upper
lip and nose

TRIGEMINAL NERVE

SENSORY INNERVATION

NERVES IN THE ORBIT

MOTOR INNERVATION
CN VII
Innervated muscles
for facial expression
Orbicularis oculi,
procerus, corrugator
superciliaris, &
frontalis muscle

NERVES IN THE ORBIT

PARASYMPATHETIC INNERVATION
Provides accommodation, pupillary constriction, &
lacrimal gland stimulation
Short posterior ciliary nerves

SYMPATHETIC INNERVATION
Provides pupillary dilation, vasoconstriction, &
hidrosis

LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE OF THE LID

Medial group
Drains into
submandibular
lymph nodes

Lateral group
Drains into
superficial
preauricular
lymph nodes