II. 14.

Orbit

The orbits are a pair of pyramidal-shaped bony cavities, located one on either side of the root of
the nose and provides sockets for rotatory movements of the eyeballs. Each orbit is a four-sided
pyramid with apex directed behind at the optic canal and base forward, represented by the orbital
margin. The medial walls of two orbits are parallel to each other but the lateral walls are set at right
angle to each other (Fig. 19.1).
The long axis of each orbit (orbital axis) passes backwards and medially.

The boundaries of the orbit (Fig. 19.2) are as follows:

Medial wall (thinnest): Formed by four bones; from before backwards these are as follows:
1. Frontal process of maxilla.
2. Lacrimal process of maxilla.
3. Orbital plate of ethmoid.
4. Body of sphenoid.

Lateral wall (strongest): Formed by two bones, viz.

1. Orbital surface of the zygomatic bone in front.
2. Orbital surface of greater wing of sphenoid behind.

Floor: Formed by three bones:

1. Orbital surface of the body of maxilla.
2. Orbital surface of the zygomatic bone, anterolaterally.
3. Orbital process of the palatine bone, posteromedially.

Roof: Formed by two bones, viz.

1. Orbital plate of the frontal bone in front.
2. Lesser wing of the sphenoid behind.

Presenting Features in Four Boundary Walls of Orbit (Fig. 19.3)

Medial wall: Presents two features, viz.

1. Lacrimal fossa is bounded in front by the anterior lacrimal crest of maxilla and behind by
the posterior lacrimal crest of the lacrimal bone. The lacrimal fossa communicates with the
nasal cavity through nasolacrimal canal. The lacrimal fossa and nasolacrimal canal lodge
lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct, respectively.
2. Anterior and posterior ethmoidal foramina, lie at the junction between medial wall and
the roof of the orbit.

Lateral wall: Presents two features, viz.

1. Zygomatic foramen. Sometimes there are two small foramina, for zygomaticofacial and
zygomaticotemporal nerves.
2. Whitnall’s tubercle, a small bony tubercle just behind the lateral orbital margin and
slightly below the frontozygomatic suture.

Floor: Presents two features, viz.

1. Infraorbital groove and canal.
2. Small rough impression in anteromedial angle for origin of inferior oblique muscle.
Roof: Presents three features, viz.
1. Fossa for lacrimal gland in the anterolateral part.
2. Trochlear notch or spine at the anteromedial angle.
3. Optic canal at the extreme posterior part of the roof.

Apex: Lies at the posterior end of the orbit and is formed by sphenoid. More precisely it is formed
by the centre of the bony bridge between optic canal and superior orbital fissure.

Base: Open and quadrangular, its boundaries form the orbital margins.
Orbital Margins

The orbital margins are formed as follows:

1. Supraorbital margin is formed by the frontal bone and presents a notch—supraorbital notch or foramen
at the junction of its lateral two-third and medial one-third.
2. Infraorbital margin is formed by the zygomatic bone laterally and maxilla medially; it is continuous with
anterior lacrimal crest medially.
3. Medial orbital margin is ill-defined. It is formed by the frontal bone above and lacrimal crest of the frontal
process of maxilla below.

4. Lateral orbital margin is formed by zygomatic process of the frontal bone above and frontal
process of the zygomatic bone below.

The margins of the orbit are readily palpable in vivo.

N.B. The orbital margins provide a fair bony protection to the eye except at the lateral margin. For
this reason protective eye guards are designed to compensate for it, in squash and handball players
and still permitting good peripheral vision.

RELATIONS
The relations of orbit are as follows:
Above: Anterior cranial fossa and frontal air sinus (usually).
Lateral: Temporal fossa in front and middle cranial fossa behind
Below: Maxillary air sinus.
Medial: Ethmoidal air sinuses.