Anatomy and Physiology

of Eyelid
 Introduction

Medical Term for Eyelid – Palpebrae, Blephar

 Learning Objectives
At the end of the session the trainee will be able to:

1. Identify the parts of the eyelid

2. Describe the functions of each part of the eyelid

3. Explain the layers of the eyelid and their functions

 Functions of the Eyelid
• Protect delicate eye balls
• Keeps cornea clean, transparent &
moist by blinking. (A person blinks 4 -6
times / minute)
• It helps to spread the tears to the
front part of the eye by blinking.
• Secrete the oily part of tears and
prevents eye from drying
• Helps the tear drainage through the
punctum
 Eyelid – Gross Anatomy

Upper and Lower eyelid Lid Folds

It is the thinnest skin of Each eyelid is divided by a
our body horizontal lid fold called
Movable fold of the eye sulcus
When eyes are open
Upper lid covers 1/6th of
the cornea. Lower lid
touches Limbus
Eyelid – Gross Anatomy
Eye lashes / Cilia - Protects from dust and foreign
body and from sweating
Glands : ZEIS is in the lid margin. Produce Oily
substance to lubricate eyelashes.
Glands of Moll / Ciliary gland is behind the hair
follicles to secrete lipid to reduce evaporation.

Lid Margin
Two portions: Anterior and Posterior grey lines.
Eyelashes are in the anterior portion of the eyelid.
Ciliary portion - extending from lateral canthus to
the lacrimal punctum
Lacrimal portion – extends from the punctum to
the medial canthal angle
 Assessment
1. The eyelid moisten the _____ and ______.
a) Cornea and conjunctiva
b) Cornea and aqueous chamber
c) Conjunctiva and the glands
2. The horizontal furrow like folds on the upper
eyelid is called ______.
a) Upper eyelid
b) Sulcus
c) Lashes
 Eyelid – Gross Anatomy
Medial canthus - Lids meet on the
nasal side. It is 2 mm higher than
lateral canthus.
Lateral canthus - Temporal junction

Caruncle - Separated button like skin at

the medial canthus bearing few hair or
glands to trap dust / dirt

Plica Semilunaris – Half moon shaped movable

fold of the Bulbar conjunctiva. Secrete fatty
substance to filter dirt and dust.
 Eyelid – Gross Anatomy

Punctum - Small tube in both the eyelid

near the nose, to connect upper and
lower canaliculus.

Palpebral Aperture – the elliptical

space formed between upper and
lower eyelids, when the eyes are open.
 Eyelid - Microscopic Structure
Layers of Eyelid

a. Cutaneous
b. Muscle Layer c. Fibrous Layer
Layer

Protraction
Skin Orbital Septum
Muscles

Subcutaneous Retraction
Tarsal Plate
Areolar Tissue Muscles
 Eyelid – Cutaneous Layer

Skin

Subcutaneous Areolar
tissue

Orbicularis Oculi

• Thinnest skin of our body.

• No fat in this layer
 Muscle layer/Middle layer
Protraction – movement of muscle in Retraction – movement of muscle in
anterior direction posterior direction

Muscle layer

Muscles of Muscles of
Protraction Retraction

Orbicularis Upper lid Lower lid

oculi

Levator Palpebrae Capsulopalpebral

Pretarsal
Superioris Fascia

Preseptal Lower Muller/

Upper Muller /
Inferior tarsal
Superior tarsal
Orbital muscle
muscle
 Muscle Layer
Protraction Muscle Functions :
(Orbicularis Oculi – circular muscles
around the eyelids
* Involuntary actions like blinking
* Voluntary actions – like winking and
squeezing the eye
* Helps in tear drainage
* Nerves: The cranial nerve VII -
closes the eyelid
Retraction Muscle Functions:
• The Levator Palpebral
Superioris (LPS) helps to
elevate or raises the eyelid
• Support to form the upper
eyelid fold
• Nerves: The cranial Nerve III -
open the eyelid
 Fibrous Layer
Orbital Septum Tarsal Plate Closed eyelid
• Fibrous portion of the • Dense connective tissue,
eyelids. Behind the on each eyelid.
septum the orbital fat is • It contains Meibomian
present. Gland or otherwise called
• Function: Tarsal Gland.
• Protects optic nerve and • Function : provide
eyeball stiffness and shape to the
• Reduce the spread of eye. It is the place for
infection and muscle to attach.
hemorrhage • The meibomian gland /
tarsal gland is present in
this region. This secretes
oily mucous for tears, so
upper and lower eyelid do
not stick together.
 Eye Lid- Assessment

Layers of
Eyelid

Cutaneous Muscle Fibrous

Layer Layer Layer

Protraction Orbital
Skin
Muscles Septum

Subcutaneous Retraction
Areolar Tissue
Tarsal Plate
Muscles
 Blood Supply, Veins and Nerves in
the Eyelid
Blood Supply arteries
The Lateral Palpebral arteries and the Medial
Palpebral arteries form two arches from the lacrimal
artery and ophthalmic artery

Blood Draining Veins : The deoxygenated blood drain

through the Post tarsal into the ophthalmic veins

Nerves :
Cranial Nerve VII supplies nerves to Orbicularis
muscle (to open the eyelid)
Cranial Nerve III supply nerves to the Levator
Palpebral Superioris muscle (to close the eyelid).
trigeminal nerve - supply nerves to the eyelashes
 Assessment

1. The elliptical space between upper and lower eyelid is

______.
a. Plica semilunaris
b. Palpebral Aperture
c. Cilia
2. The skin of the eyelid is innervated by _______ nerve.
a. Occipital
b. Optic
c. Trigeminal
 Summarize

Trainees can pick and talk on any

part of the eyelid.