Ace Achievers

Dental Academy

THE 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.

Boundaries
• 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.

• Whitnall’s tubercle, a small bony tubercle just behind the lateral orbital margin and
slightly below the frontozygomatic suture.
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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.

Orbital Fascia or Periorbita

• The periosteum of the bony orbit, which lines the bony boundaries of the orbit and
forms a funnel-shaped fascial sheath that encloses the orbital contents.

Orbital Muscles
Extraocular Muscles

Voluntary Muscles Involuntary Muscles

1. Four recti muscles Superior tarsal or Muller's muscle
(a) Superior rectus, Inferior tarsal and
(b) Inferior rectus, Orbitalis.
(c) Medial rectus, and
(d) Lateral rectus.
2. Two oblique muscles
(a) Superior oblique,
(b) Inferior oblique.
3. One levator palpebrae superioris.

Recti Muscles
Origin
• All the recti arise from the corresponding margins of the common tendinous ring.
The lateral rectus arises by two heads.
• The common tendinous ring encloses the optic canal and middle part of the superior
orbital fissure. It is attached medially to apex of the orbit and laterally to a small
tubercle (tubercle of Zinn) on the lower border of superior orbital fissure.
Insertion
• All the recti are inserted into sclera little posterior to the limbus (corneoscleral
junction) in front of the equator of the eyeball. Average distance from limbus is:
- Medial rectus, 5 mm
- Inferior rectus, 6 mm
- Lateral rectus, 7 mm
- Superior rectus, 8 mm
Nerve Supply - All muscles are supplied by third cranial nerve except:
• SO4: Fourth cranial nerve for superior oblique
• LR6: Sixth cranial nerve for lateral rectus.

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Muscle Primary Secondary Tertiary

MR Adduction ------ ------
LR Abduction ------ ------
SR Elevation Intortion Adduction
IR Depression Extortion Adduction
SO Intortion Depression Abduction
IO Extortion Elevation abduction

Applied Anatomy
Strabismus/squint
• Unilateral paralysis of an individual muscle due to involvement of the nerves
produces strabismus or squint (deviation of eye to the opposite side) and may result
in diplopia (double vision).

Muscle Paralyzed Nerve Involved Effects

Lateral rectus Abducent Medial squint
Medial rectus Oculomotor Lateral squint

Fascia bulbi or fascial sheath of the eyeball

• The fascia bulbi (Tenon’s capsule) is a loose membranous sheath that envelops the
eyeball and extends from optic nerve to the sclerocorneal junction.
• It is separated from the sclera by the episcleral space.
• The Tenon’s capsule forms a socket for the eyeball to facilitate free ocular
movements. It separates the eyeball from orbital fat.

Tunics of the Eyeball

• The eyeball consists of three concentric coats, viz.
1. An outer fibrous coat consisting of sclera and cornea.
2. A middle vascular coat consisting of choroid, ciliary body, and iris.
3. An inner nervous coat consisting of the retina.

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Visual Pathway
Refer to Dr Neeraj Wadhawan’s book NEET 2020 Pattern paper Q5 for detailed
explanation.

Parasympathetic control of the pupil size

Important points
➢ Eyeball is supported from below by Lockwood suspensory ligament.
➢ Strabismus (Squint): Abnormal deviation of eyeball.
➢ Medial Squint: Damage to Abducent nerve.
➢ Lateral Squint and Ptosis- Dropping of eyelid: Damage to occulomotor nerve.
➢ Diplopia while looking downwards: Damage to Trochlear nerve.