Skin Creases and Folds

Several lines on the skin serve to anatomically define the periocular and facial anatomy. The upper eyelid skin crease separates the upper eyelid skin fold from the flat pretarsal component of the upper eyelid ( Figure 2.1 ). The upper eyelid crease is an anatomic landmark that is commonly referred to in oculoplastic surgery. Incisions hidden in this crease for upper eyelid ptosis repair or blepharoplasty and other procedures are among the most common incisions used in oculoplastic surgery.

Surface landmarks of the periorbital area. The facial wrinkles are oriented 90 degrees to the underlying muscle.

The eyelid skin above and below the crease is the thinnest in the body. The skin must be thin to allow for the spontaneous quick blinking movements of the eyelids. A lower eyelid crease is common in children ( Figure 2.2 ) but is usually not visible in adults. The eyelid skin becomes thicker as you move further away from the eyelid margins toward the brow and cheek. The nasojugal and malar folds separate the thin lower eyelid skin from the thicker skin of the cheek. In younger patients, the inferior orbital rim contour is not visible or easily palpable. With age, the malar fat pad (and the deeper suborbicularis oculi fat [SOOF]) descends and deflates and the rim becomes more noticeable, both visually and by palpation (compare some of your 20-year-old patients with your 50-year-old patients in this regard). As the nasojugal fold becomes deeper it is often termed the tear trough . Thinner patients show more “hills and valleys.” As thinner patients age, a hollow diagonal furrow or groove forms, separating the malar fat from the nasolabial fold (the midface groove). These “valleys” correspond to areas where the soft tissues are more tightly bound down to the underlying facial soft tissue or bone. In this case, the tethering is by the zygomatic cutaneous ligaments, or the connective tissue that more tightly attaches the skin to the underlying muscle here than at the surrounding areas; this causes the hollow that forms. The melolabial fold extends inferolaterally from the ala of the nose to the corner of the mouth. Subtle facial asymmetry resulting from paralysis of the facial nerve is often evident in the melolabial fold, where the fold is softer or absent. This fold is also known as the nasolabial fold . A hollow or line develops from the corners of the mouth, slanting laterally to the mandible, and is known as the marionette line . Associated with the development of marionette lines, you see jowling of the cheek posterior to the marionette line. As these tissues descend, the smooth mandibular border that is associated with youth is lost.

Features of the youthful face. ( A ) The round, long, smooth curves of the full baby face with graceful transitions from one part of the face to another. ( B ) The lower eyelid crease, usually seen only in children.

As you learn the anatomy of the face, you start to become aware of what makes your patients look “old.” The youthful face has long, smooth contours with graceful transitions from one area to the other. For example, the cheek and lower eyelid blend together without an obvious division. The landmarks that we have been discussing appear with age, separating the anatomic areas of the face in hills and valleys belying the patient’s age. Later in the book, you learn techniques using Botox, filler, and surgery that push the clock back a bit, re-creating those smoother contours of youth.

Skin creases ( rhytids or wrinkles ) form as a result of the movement of the underlying muscles of facial expression. The most familiar of these creases are the “crow’s feet” arising at the lateral canthus caused by contraction of the orbicularis muscle. The direction of these wrinkles can be predicted by recognizing that they always form perpendicular to the underlying muscle fibers (see Figure 2.1 and also see Figure 2.16 ). This explains the radial orientation of the crow’s feet lines to the circular orientation of the orbicularis muscle. Other prominent creases caused by underlying muscle contraction include the horizontal forehead furrows (from the frontalis muscle). The horizontal and diagonal lines of the glabella are caused by the contraction of the procerus and corrugator muscles, respectively. These lines suggest redundancy in the tissue perpendicular to the lines. That redundancy represents lax tissue that is “tightened” to reverse aging changes. The same redundancy is what you are looking for when you are trying to close a tissue defect after excision of a facial skin cancer. You also learn to hide incisions in these creases so that the resulting scar is not easily seen. We will discuss how Botox and other neuromodulators can be used to improve facial wrinkles by relaxing the underlying muscles.

Eyebrows

The brows, technically a part of the scalp, are divided into three anatomic parts:

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  Head

  
  
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  Body

  
  
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  Tail

The orientation of the brow hairs varies in each part of the brow. The brow hairs in the head of the brow tend to be vertical. As you move toward the tail of the brow, notice that the hairs tend to lie flatter or slightly downward. It has been suggested that incisions made within the brow hairs should be oriented parallel to the shafts of the hairs to minimize the number of follicles damaged. This seems reasonable but makes closure of the wound more difficult.

The eyebrows are an important feature of an individual’s facial appearance and are primary indicators of facial expression and mood ( Figure 2.3 ). Many texts include variations of this “happy face” eyebrow model. If you look at your friends’ brows carefully, you see, and are impressed by, how the slope, shape, and position of the eyebrows give you an immediate impression of mood. Lifting a drooping tail of the brow makes a melancholic-appearing patient look happier. We see this later in Chapter 6 .

“Happy face” diagram demonstrating how brow position reflects mood.

The male and female brows differ in shape and position ( Figure 2.4 ). The normal male brow is flat and full in contrast to the thinner and more arched female brow. The superior margin of brow hairs is “feathered” in men and smooth in women. The male brow sits squarely at the superior orbital rim. The female brow is typically arched, with the highest point being above the lateral canthus or slightly more medial to it. The position of the female brow is well above the rim, especially temporally, where the superior lateral part of the bony rim contour is visible and easily palpable. The male rim is generally more prominent than the female rim because of a larger frontal sinus. The male brow tends to encroach upon the otherwise hairless glabella between the brows.

Normal eyebrow contour. ( A ) Female. ( B ) Male.

(Diagram from Johnson CM, Alsarraf R. The aging face: a systematic approach. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2002.)

The features of the brow are secondary sexual characteristics that differ in men and women. Women manicure the brows to make the female face more attractive. Epilation of the brow hairs accents differences between male and female brows in thickness, smooth margins, arched contour, and position. Although the shape and position of the brow change somewhat with the current fashion, I suspect we all have the same image of male and female movie supermodel eyebrows. With age, the appearance of the brow changes also. The normally high arch of the young woman is lost as the brow tends to droop temporally. A ptosis of the brow accentuates the upper eyelid skin fold and fills in the deep superior sulcus of the upper eyelid seen in younger patients. Lifting a drooping eyebrow always improves the appearance of a cosmetic blepharoplasty. With a severe brow ptosis, as in facial nerve palsy, the superior visual field is obstructed. Lifting the brow helps to restore the visual field. Your appreciation of the eyebrow anatomy is important for you to perform cosmetic or reconstructive surgery of the face.

Eyelids

The function of the eyelids is to protect the eyes and distribute the tears. It is important for you to understand the normal anatomy of the eyelids and to recognize conditions that may prevent normal function.

The lateral canthus is usually slightly higher than the medial canthus, although the slope of the eyelid fissures can vary widely among individuals (see Figure 2.1 ). The upper lid contour is more arched than that of the lower lid. The peak of the upper lid is just nasal to the pupil. The lowest point of the lower eyelid is below the lateral limbus. The normal contour of the eyelid must be re-created in a variety of procedures, including ptosis repair and reconstruction of the lateral canthal angle.

The horizontal length of the eyelids is 30 mm. The distance between the upper and lower eyelids, the palpebral aperture or fissure , is about 10 mm. A useful way to measure the position of the upper and lower eyelids is the margin reflex distance . This distance is the number of millimeters from the corneal light reflex to the lid margin. The upper lid margin reflex distance (MRD ₁ ) usually measures 4 to 5 mm. That means that the upper lid margin rests slightly below the limbus. The lower lid rests at the lower limbus, making the lower lid margin reflex distance (MRD ₂ ) 5 mm ( Figure 2.5 ). These distances can be measured with a ruler or estimated. When you estimate the distance, keep in mind that midway between the corneal light reflex and the limbus is 2.5 mm. The eyelid aperture measurements, especially the MRDs, are an essential part of the eyelid examination and one of the eyelid vital signs . A drooping upper eyelid is known as ptosis or blepharoptosis. An upper eyelid resting above the upper limbus or a lower eyelid resting below the lower limbus is said to have lid retraction . The white between the limbus and the lid is known as scleral show .

The margin reflex distance.

The eyelid skin is the thinnest in the body, allowing rapid eyelid blinks ( Figure 2.6 ). There is no subcutaneous fat in the eyelid. Superiorly the eyelid skin thickens to become eyebrow skin. As part of the eyelid examination you should measure the amount of eyelid skin present. When performing a blepharoplasty to remove excess eyelid skin, it is necessary to leave enough of the thin eyelid skin to allow quick passive blinks. Many (actually most) older patients have a sagging brow contributing to the appearance of a droopy brow. In these patients, an eyebrow lift (browplasty) is an important addition to the skin removal (blepharoplasty) (more on this in later chapters). Worth noting now is that the complaint of “droopy eyelids” can be the result of eyelid ptosis, redundant eyelid skin, or a sagging eyebrow, or a combination of these.

( A ) Eyelid pigmentation, thickness, and texture. Eyebrow skin is thicker than eyelid skin, which is seen a few millimeters inferior to the eyebrow hairs. Often the eyelid skin is darker than the eyebrow skin. ( B ) In this patient, the eyelid skin is darker, thinner, and more wrinkled than the eyebrow skin. ( C ) In another patient, who is younger than the patient in panel A , the eyelid skin is also darker and thinner than the eyebrow skin. The eyelid shows few wrinkles. It is important to recognize this difference so you can better diagnose an eyebrow ptosis. At the time of blepharoplasty, it helps you avoid taking too much eyelid skin. The ellipse shows the amount of eyelid skin to be removed for a blepharoplasty. The upper line is the junction of the eyelid and eyebrow skin. Notice that the junction is several millimeters inferior to the eyebrow hairs.

There are three or four rows of eyelashes along the upper lid margin and one or two rows of eyelashes along the lower lid margin. The eyelashes extend from just lateral to the puncta to the lateral canthus. Misdirection of the eyelashes against the eye, also known as trichiasis , causes a foreign body sensation. In some cases, trichiasis can cause severe corneal problems. Treatment is focused at redirecting or eliminating the eyelashes.

The eyelids attach to the orbital bones via the medial and lateral canthal tendons . The tendons attach to the tarsal plates , which are the fibrous skeleton of the eyelids. A favorite board examination question asks if the tarsal plates are made of cartilage (which they are not; they are made of fibrous tissue). The upper lid tarsal plate is about 10 mm high, corresponding with the skin crease height. The lower lid tarsal plate is about 4 to 6 mm high. Within the tarsal plates are the meibomian glands , modified sebaceous glands that secrete the majority of the oil layer of the tear film. The eyelash follicles originate on the anterior surface of the tarsal plate and exit the eyelid on the margin. The orbicularis muscle is tightly bound to the anterior surface of the tarsus.

Orbital Rim

Bones of the Orbital Rim

Let’s move from the superficial anatomy to the deep anatomy, the orbital bones. The orbit is made of a strong bony rim and relatively weak orbital walls . Several openings, foramina , into and out of the orbit allow the passage of the veins, arteries, and nerves that supply the orbital tissues. The orbital rims, walls, and foramen are discussed in the paragraphs below.

The orbital rim provides protection for the eye without compromising the visual field. The rim is made of thick, strong bones, especially the superior and lateral rims, where protection from injury is needed most. The superior orbital rim protects the eye from blows from above, as well as sunlight (you rarely see skin cancers on the upper eyelid). The lateral orbital rim curves posteriorly so that there is good peripheral vision at the sides. The inferior rim is posterior enough so that the inferior visual field is not blocked for close work and reading. The orbital rim is made of three bones, the frontal, the zygomatic, and the maxillary ( Figure 2.7 ).

The frontal view of the orbit.

Tripod fracture

Rarely do the bones of the superior and lateral rims themselves break. More commonly, the suture lines between the bones separate. The most common facial fracture is a zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture ( ZMC fracture ) ( Figure 2.8 ). In this fracture, the zygoma is separated from the other orbital bones at the sutures connecting the zygoma to the rim. Fracture or separation occurs superiorly at the frontozygomatic suture and inferiorly at the zygomaticomaxillary suture . A fracture also occurs along the zygomatic arch posteriorly at the suture line between the temporal bone and zygoma. Because three suture lines are fractured, this type of fracture is also known as a tripod fracture . The bones of the medial and inferior rims are not as strong as the superior and lateral rims. Injury to the medial and inferior rims may cause the bones to fracture in many pieces, a comminuted fracture . The body of the zygoma is very strong and is rarely comminuted.

“Tripod” or zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture (ZMC fracture). Note that the left lower lid and lateral canthus are displaced inferiorly.

The orbital rims provide the sites for attachment of the medial and lateral canthal tendons. Look at a skull or Figure 2.9 . Follow the inferior and superior rims as they form the medial orbital rim and notice that the paths of the rims diverge. The superior rim moves posteriorly to form the posterior lacrimal crest . The inferior rim moves anteriorly to form the anterior lacrimal crest . The fossa between the two crests is the lacrimal sac fossa , where the lacrimal sac sits. The medial canthal tendon splits into two limbs, the anterior and posterior limbs , which attach to the lacrimal crests, respectively, surrounding the lacrimal sac ( Box 2.2 ).

Anterior and posterior lacrimal crests diverge to form the lacrimal sac fossa.

Box 2.2

The Orbital Rim

Superior rim

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  Frontal bone

Lateral rim

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  Zygomatic bone

Medial rim

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  Frontal bone

  
  
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  Maxillary bone

Inferior rim

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  Zygomatic bone

  
  
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  Maxillary bone

Orbital Walls

Boundaries of the Walls

There are four orbital walls. The walls angle posteriorly to form a conical or pyramidal orbit. The orbital roof is concave in contour and forms the floor of the anterior cranial fossa. The concavity of the orbital roof is particularly steep laterally and anteriorly where the lacrimal gland sits in the lacrimal gland fossa. The orbital roof is separated from the lateral orbital wall by the superior orbital fissure ( Figure 2.10 ; see also Figure 2.8 ). The lateral orbital wall ( Figure 2.11 ; see also Figure 2.7 ) is relatively flat on the orbital side, but concave on its exterior surface to accommodate the temporalis muscle. There is a small point of bone along the edge of the superior orbital fissure where the lateral rectus originates; this is the spine of the lateral rectus. The inferior orbital fissure separates the lateral wall from the orbital floor ( Figure 2.12 ). The orbital floor is the roof of the maxillary sinus. The orbital floor slopes upward posteriorly to the apex and medially toward the medial orbital wall. The medial orbital wall is the lateral wall of the ethmoid sinus. Notice that both the medial wall and the floor are normally convex. The anatomic separation of the medial wall and orbital roof is the suture line separating the ethmoid bone and the frontal bone (the frontoethmoid suture) ( Figure 2.13 ). This suture line is easy to see because the anterior and posterior ethmoid arteries and nerves travel through the foramina in the suture line.

The orbital roof.

The lateral wall of the orbit.

The floor of the orbit.

The medial orbital wall.

A simple way to think of the orbit and the foramen is that of a pyramidal “box.” The inferior orbital fissure separates the lateral wall from the floor. The superior orbital fissure separates the lateral wall from the roof. You can see that the lateral wall extends from the inferior orbital fissure to the superior orbital fissure. At the posterior end of the superior orbital fissure is the optic canal. The roof is separated from the medial wall by the anterior and posterior ethmoidal foramina. The medial wall becomes the floor where the ethmoid sinus meets the maxillary sinus, forming a thick edge of bone known as the strut. (More information about this structure is given when we discuss orbital fractures and orbital decompression surgery for the correction of the proptosis of thyroid eye disease.) Obviously, this is an oversimplification, but it is helpful to me.

Fissures, Foramina, Grooves, and Canals

There are several openings into and out of the orbit ( Table 2.1 ). I like to think about the functions of these openings. What spaces are connected by the openings? Once you know what spaces are connected, it is easier to remember what goes through the openings. The most obvious of these are the superior and inferior orbital fissures. These fissures form a V on the lateral side of each orbit that defines the limits of the lateral orbital wall. The superior orbital fissure separates the roof from the lateral wall, and the inferior orbital fissure separates the floor from the lateral orbital wall. See if you can visualize this (if not, look at Figure 2.7 ). Because the superior orbital fissure connects the orbit to the brain, it must carry cranial nerves to the orbit (cranial nerves III, IV, and VI). The inferior orbital fissure connects the orbit to the infratemporal fossa and the pterygopalatine fossa (behind and around the maxillary sinus—posterior and lateral to the maxillary sinus).

Table 2.1

Fissures, Foramina, Grooves, and Canals

Opening	From orbit to	Contains
Superior orbital fissure	Cavernous sinus	Cranial nerves III, IV, and VI
		Superior ophthalmic vein
Inferior orbital fissure	Pterygopalatine fossa	Inferior ophthalmic vein
Foramen rotundum	Brain	Maxillary nerve (V 2 )
Optic canal	Chiasm	Optic nerve (cranial nerve II)
Anterior ethmoidal foramen	Sinus mucosa	Anterior ethmoidal artery, vein, and nerve
Posterior ethmoidal foramen	Sinus mucosa	Posterior ethmoidal artery, vein, and nerve
Zygomaticotemporal foramen	Superior lateral orbital rim tissues	Nerve, artery, and vein
Zygomaticofacial foramen	Inferior lateral orbital rim tissues	Nerve, artery, and vein
Bony nasolacrimal duct	Inferior meatus of nose	Membranous nasolacrimal duct

 

At the apex of the V formed by the superior and inferior orbital fissures is the infraorbital groove (see Figure 2.12 ). As the groove extends anteriorly along the orbital floor, it gets a bony covering and is known as the infraorbital canal . The canal leaves the orbit at the infraorbital foramen . As you would assume, the infraorbital nerve travels in the infraorbital groove and through the infraorbital canal. The infraorbital nerve is the major sensory nerve of the second division of the trigeminal nerve. Go back to the apex of the V. Follow the infraorbital groove posteriorly and you will be in the pterygopalatine fossa . This fossa, as mentioned earlier, is the space posterior to the maxillary sinus and anterior to the skull base (the bottom of the cranial vault). The second division of the trigeminal nerve (V ₂ ) leaves the cranium through the foramen rotundum , entering the pterygopalatine fossa. The nerve then crosses the fossa and enters the orbit via the posterior portion of the inferior orbital fissure, the infraorbital groove.

Let’s talk about the other important opening out of the orbit into the cranium, the optic canal . The optic nerve leaves the orbit via the optic canal to enter the cranial vault . Look at Figure 2.7 or at a skull. The optic canal is the most posterior landmark in the orbit. The length of the optic canal is 10 mm. Medially, the posterior ethmoid foramen is 4 to 7 mm anterior to the optic canal; it is an important surgical landmark when operating deeply along the posterior orbital wall (see Figure 2.13 ). Laterally, the optic canal is separated from the superior orbital fissure by a small piece of bone, the optic strut . If you follow the optic strut posteriorly and superiorly, it becomes the anterior clinoid process. Although not important for you now, if you approach the optic canal from an intracranial exposure with your neurosurgical colleagues, knowledge of this relationship may help you. (Next time you pick up a skull, look at how the optic strut extends to form the anterior clinoid process. It will help you learn some of this complicated anatomy.) When you look at a computed tomography (CT) scan, the thin piece of bone separating the optic canal from the superior orbital fissure is the optic strut. Earlier, we said that the posterior portion of the lateral orbital wall was made up of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone ( Figure 2.14 ). The optic strut and the optic canal are parts of the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone. The sphenoid bone forms a large part of the skull base and posterior orbit. Its shape is complicated. For now, just remember that the greater wing lies lateral to the superior orbital fissure and the lesser wing lies medial to the superior orbital fissure .

Axial CT scan of orbit. A , Superior orbital fissure. B , Optic canal. C , Anterior clinoid process. You can see how the inferior extension of the anterior clinoid process, the optic strut, separates the optic canal from the superior orbital fissure. When you want to identify the optic canal, find the scan that shows the anterior clinoid process.

Look at the CT scan shown in Figure 2.14 . It is easy to recognize the superior orbital fissure because it opens into the intracranial space. Similarly, it is easy to recognize the inferior orbital fissure because it opens into the space posterior to the maxillary sinus (the pterygopalatine fossa) and into the infratemporal fossa laterally. The inferior orbital fissure does not open into the brain. The optic canal is adjacent to the anterior clinoid processes (seen on the same CT cut). The optic canal also opens into the intracranial space.

There are two other sets of foramina. All carry the related arteries, veins, and nerves. These foramina are:

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  Anterior ethmoidal

  
  
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  Posterior ethmoidal

  
  
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  Zygomaticotemporal

  
  
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  Zygomaticofacial

The anterior and posterior ethmoidal foramina are important surgical landmarks that separate the medial wall and roof of the orbit. These foramina are found in the frontoethmoid suture. If you break the medial wall inferior to the suture, you are in the ethmoid sinus. If you break the bone above the suture, you are in the brain (causing a cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] leak). The anterior-posterior location of the foramina is a helpful indicator of how far posterior an orbital dissection along the medial wall is proceeding. The anterior ethmoidal foramen is about 24 mm posterior to the anterior lacrimal crest. The posterior ethmoidal foramen is another 10 to 12 mm posterior. As we have already mentioned, the optic canal is 4 to 7 mm more posterior. A helpful way to remember is 24 – 12 – 6 mm. During an operation, it is easy to overestimate your position on the medial orbital wall, so these numbers are surprisingly helpful as you learn orbital surgery. When you operate along the medial orbital wall, it is important to recognize the ethmoidal vessels because significant bleeding can occur if they are inadvertently torn. The ethmoidal veins are valveless and permit flow into the orbit from the ethmoid sinus. Purulent sinusitis can spread into the orbit through these vessels or directly into the orbit through the thin lamina papyracea of the medial orbital wall. I talk more about the vessels and sensory nerves that travel in these foramina later.

The zygomaticotemporal and zygomaticofacial foramina transmit the arteries, veins, and nerves of the same name. The nerves are sensory branches of the trigeminal nerve (V ₂ ). The arteries are small branches that originate off the lacrimal artery (a main branch of the ophthalmic artery, which arises directly off the internal carotid artery). You see these foramina when you lift the periorbita off the lateral wall. Cauterization is appropriate before you cut the arteries. If the artery retracts into the foramen, bleeding can be stopped by packing the foramen with a bit of bone wax. Cutting these nerves during a lateral orbitotomy results in some hypesthesia of the surrounding area that is minimal because of collateral innervation. Note that the overlap of these vessels and nerves with adjacent vessels and nerves of differing origin is typical of the collateral innervation and vascularization of the facial area. The medial and inferior branches of the infraorbital artery (from the internal maxillary artery) overlap with the branches of the ophthalmic artery and ophthalmic nerve (V ₁ ). Anastomoses of the zygomaticotemporal nerve (from V ₂ ) with the lacrimal nerve (from V ₁ ) have sensory overlap. This overlap of blood and nerve supplies helps to preserve function after accidental trauma. Incisions can be made and flaps formed with a relatively low risk of ischemia or permanent sensory loss.

Periorbita

The bones of the orbit are covered with periosteum like all the other bones of the body. The periosteum covering the inside of the orbit is known as the periorbita . The periorbita is tightly adherent to the bone at the orbital suture lines and along the orbital rims. Over the orbital walls, the periorbita is loosely adherent. You see these differing degrees of adhesion when pus or blood accumulates under the periorbita as a result of infection or trauma. In these situations, the periorbita is elevated off the orbital walls in a characteristic dome-shaped elevation ending at suture lines where the periorbita is adherent ( Figure 2.15 ). The orbital septum is an extension of fibrous tissue continuous with the periosteum, extending from the orbital rim to the lids. The structure formed where the orbital septum attaches to the rim is known as the arcus marginalis . Three structures meet at the arcus marginalis, the orbital septum, the periorbita, and the periosteum. The orbital septum is discussed in more detail later.

Checkpoint

Imagine having a skull in your hand. You should be able to point out 5 or 10 minutes’ worth of bone anatomy and some of the clinically relevant features:

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  Name the bones of the orbital rims. Which bone rarely breaks? Point to the fracture lines of a ZMC fracture.

  
  
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  Describe the boundaries of the orbital walls. Name the bones of the walls. Where does a blowout fracture occur? Why is hypesthesia of the infraorbital nerve and subcutaneous emphysema common? What are other signs of a blowout fracture?

  
  
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  Name three openings in the orbital walls and describe what spaces they connect. Try to identify these on each orbital axial CT scan:

  
  
  
  
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    Optic canal

    
    
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    Superior orbital fissure

    
    
  • •
    

    Inferior orbital fissure

  
  
  
  
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  What two openings in the orbit form a V?

  
  
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  What structure separates the superior orbital fissure from the optic canal?

  
  
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  Which foramina separate the medial wall from the roof of the orbit?

If you know the answers to these questions, you are doing very well. If not, review the last section. This is basic information that you should know.

Subperiosteal abscess on the orbital roof and the medial wall of the orbit attributable to ethmoid sinus infection. Note how the abscess elevates the periorbita to form a dome. The periorbita remains fixed to the frontoethmoid suture ( arrow ), making two abscess spaces.

Orbicularis Muscle

For the eyelids to function, there must be muscles that close the eye and muscles that open the eye. The orbicularis muscle ( Figure 2.16 ) is the muscle primarily responsible for closing the eyelids. The orbicularis muscle is anatomically divided into the pretarsal portion, the preseptal portion, and the orbital portion. The pretarsal and preseptal portions overlay the tarsus and the septum, respectively. These muscles are responsible for involuntary spontaneous blinking. The orbital portion covers the orbital rims and is responsible for forced eyelid closure. All parts of the orbicularis muscle are innervated by the facial nerve with innervation entering from the underside of the muscle as for all muscles of facial expression.

Corrugator and Procerus Muscles

Other protractors of the eyelids (protractors being the opposite of retractors, which open the eyes) include the corrugator muscle and the procerus muscle (see Figure 2.16 ). The corrugator muscle originates on the bone of the superonasal rim and inserts into the skin of the head of the eyebrow. Firing of the corrugator muscle pulls the heads of the eyebrows together and makes the vertical/diagonal furrows of the glabella ( Figure 2.17 ). The procerus muscle originates on the frontal bone above the glabella and inserts into the skin of the glabella. The action of these vertically oriented muscle fibers pulls the heads of the brows inferiorly and causes the horizontal furrows of the glabella. Check out your own glabellar furrows in the mirror as you squeeze your eyebrows together. Can you see contributions from both the corrugator and procerus muscles?

Muscles that close the eyes.

The glabellar furrows. ( A ) Corrugator muscle action causing vertical furrows in the glabella. ( B ) Procerus muscle causing horizontal furrows in the glabella.

Underactive Muscles: Facial Nerve Palsy

A number of clinical problems result from underactivity or overactivity of the muscles that close the eyes. Facial nerve palsy ( Figure 2.18 ) results in poor eyelid closure seen as lagophthalmos (the eyelids do not close with passive lid closure) or an incomplete spontaneous blink (quick normal blinks that do not completely cover the cornea). All the facial muscles on the affected side are also weakened, resulting in the brow ptosis, ectropion, flattening of the melolabial fold, and drooping of the corner of the mouth that you have seen in patients.

Underactive and overactive facial muscle disorders. Two common examples: ( A ) Facial nerve palsy patient. Note drooping of entire side of face. Weak muscle function results in brow ptosis, ectropion, incomplete blink, and drooping of the corner of the mouth. ( B ) Essential blepharospasm patient. Note involuntary squeezing of the muscles around the eyes. When the lower face is also involved, the condition is known as Meige syndrome.

Overactive Muscles: Orbicularis Myokymia, Facial Tics, Essential Blepharospasm, and Hemifacial Spasm

The disorders resulting from overactivity of the orbicularis muscles are orbicularis myokymia , facial tics , essential blepharospasm , and hemifacial spasm. Probably you have suffered from orbicularis myokymia at one time or another. Hyperexcitability of the muscle, caused by stress, too much caffeine, or lack of sleep, causes a quick twitch of a few muscle fibers. Orbicularis myokymia is self-limited and usually lasts a few days or less. The other conditions involve different patterns of overactivity of the facial muscles, including the orbicularis muscle. These are discussed in detail later in Chapter 9 .

Lateral Canthal Tendon

Before we leave the topic of the orbicularis muscle, a discussion of the canthal tendons is needed. As I have already noted, the canthal tendons attach the eyelids to the lateral and medial orbital rims ( Figure 2.19 ). The tendons are extensions of the orbicularis muscle that attach to the periorbita overlying the bone. The anatomy of the lateral canthal tendon is easy to understand ( Figure 2.20A ). The pretarsal and preseptal portions of the orbicularis muscle of each eyelid taper to form the superior limb and inferior limb of the lateral canthal tendon . The upper and lower limbs unite to form the lateral canthal tendon, which attaches to the inner aspect of the lateral orbital rim on Whitnall ’s tubercle . Imagine the lateral canthal tendon complex as a Y lying on its side with contributions from both the upper and the lower eyelids.

The canthal tendons.

( A ) The lateral canthal tendon. ( B ) The medial canthal tendon. ( C ) The medial canthal tendon complex surrounding the lacrimal sac.

Slope of the Eyelid

There is a wide variability of the “normal” slope of the eyelids. The lateral canthal tendon is normally at the same level or a few millimeters higher than the medial canthal tendon ( Figure 2.21A ). A downward slant toward the lateral canthal tendon is known as an “antimongoloid slant.” It is seen in a number of syndromes (such as Treacher Collins syndrome; see Figure 2.21 , B) and is also a variation of normal. An upward slant toward the lateral canthal tendon is known as a mongoloid slant. You want to re-create the patient’s symmetric natural slant to the eyelids when you work on the canthal tendons.

Eyelid slope. The normal slope of the eyelids varies widely. ( A ) The normal slope of the eyelids is the lateral canthus at or slightly higher than the medial canthus. ( B ) Antimongoloid fissure: The lateral canthal attachment is lower than the medial canthal attachment. This is a case of Treacher Collins syndrome. The poorly developed zygoma results in a lateral canthal dystopia.

Lower Eyelid Laxity: The Cause of Ectropion

In the following chapters, you learn that proper horizontal tension on the lower eyelid is necessary for the eyelid to maintain its position. Laxity of the lower eyelid is the major cause of lower eyelid eversion or ectropion ( Figure 2.22 ). This laxity does not occur from stretching of the tarsal plate; rather, it is attributable to lengthening of the lateral canthal tendon with age. You may have heard of older patients stating that their eyes look smaller than they did in their youth. You have probably already noticed that, with age, the upper eyelid droops (ptosis) and the lower eyelid actually rises up a bit (stretching of the lower eyelid retractors). Less apparent, but equally common, is a horizontal narrowing of the eyelid as a result of stretching of the canthal tendons. Thus, the “small eyes” that your older patients may notice are caused by both horizontal and vertical narrowing of the palpebral fissure. You might recall that big eyes are “pretty” eyes, a sign of youth.

Involutional ectropion of the lower eyelid caused by horizontal lid laxity, the result of stretching of the canthal tendons.

Medial Canthal Tendon

The medial canthal tendon is much more complex than the lateral canthal tendon because of the relationship of the medial canthal tendon to the lacrimal drainage system. The pretarsal and preseptal portions of the orbicularis muscle extend medially to form the two limbs of the medial canthal tendon (see Figure 2.20B ). The discussion of the anatomy of the medial orbital rim states that the anterior limb attaches to the frontal process of the maxilla along the anterior lacrimal crest. The posterior limb attaches at the posterior lacrimal crest. Remember that the two limbs of the tendon surround the lacrimal sac (see Figure 2.20C ). As the eyelid blinks, the limbs of this tendon cause the lacrimal sac to contract and relax. This action is known as the lacrimal pump. Incomplete “pumping” of the sac due to age, trauma, or facial nerve palsy contributes to tearing problems.

Levator Muscle

Two muscles are responsible for opening the upper eyelids, the levator muscle and Müller’s muscle. The levator muscle is the primary retractor of the upper eyelid. This skeletal muscle is responsible for voluntary elevation of the upper eyelid. Innervation to the levator muscle is via the superior division of the third cranial nerve (the oculomotor nerve).

One of the most common operations in oculoplastic surgery is the correction of drooping upper eyelids, so your knowledge of the anatomy and function of the levator muscle is critical to your success in oculoplastic surgery. The levator muscle originates at the orbital apex and extends forward inferior to the bone of the orbital roof ( Figure 2.23 ). At the orbital aperture, the levator is supported by Whitnall’s ligament . As the levator muscle travels anteriorly, it becomes a fibrous aponeurosis that extends inferiorly into the eyelid to insert on the anterior aspect of the tarsal plate. Fibrous extensions of the aponeurosis pass through the orbicularis muscle to create the upper eyelid skin crease ( Figure 2.24 ).

The levator muscle complex.

Cross section of the upper eyelid.

Whitnall’s Ligament

Whitnall ’ s ligament is an important anatomic landmark. The ligament extends from the fascia surrounding the lacrimal gland temporally to the trochlea medially. Whitnall’s ligament is usually easy to see intraoperatively as a strong white band of fibrous tissue ( Figure 2.25 ). Generally, the tissue superior to the ligament is muscle whereas the tissue inferior to the ligament is aponeurosis, although variation among individuals exists. It has been suggested that Whitnall’s ligament serves as a pulley for the levator muscle. Although the levator muscle complex does not slide through the ligament, the concept of the ligament allowing the muscle to change direction is a helpful one.

Whitnall’s ligament.

Müller’s Muscle

Müller’s muscle is responsible for the involuntary upper eyelid elevation seen in the sympathetically innervated fight-or-flight phenomenon. Müller’s muscle is sandwiched between the conjunctiva posteriorly and the levator aponeurosis anteriorly. Müller’s muscle extends from the superior margin of the upper tarsal plate to the level of Whitnall’s ligament (see Figure 2.24 ). A prominent surgical landmark on the surface of Müller’s muscle is the peripheral arcade , a vascular arcade extending across the muscle a few millimeters above the tarsal plate ( Figure 2.26 ). The term peripheral arcade is easily confused with the marginal arcade , a vessel that travels on the anterior surface of the tarsus along the lid margin.

The peripheral arcade in Müller’s muscle (in this case, with fatty infiltration of Müller’s muscle).

Resection of the conjunctiva and Müller’s muscle from the posterior aspect of the eyelid is an efficient way to lift ptotic eyelids in many patients. The upper eyelid is everted over a Desmarres lid speculum, and a strip of 6 to 10 mm of Müller’s muscle and conjunctiva is removed using a Putterman ptosis clamp ( Figure 2.27 ). This operation was devised 40 years ago and has seen a resurgence in popularity in the last few years. You should learn this procedure, the conjunctival Müller’s muscle resection operation (CMMR, devised by Allen Putterman). It is the most common ptosis procedure in my practice.

Conjunctival Müller’s muscle resection (CMMR). The upper eyelid is everted. Conjunctival and Müller’s muscle tissues are elevated, clamped, sewn, and excised.

Ptosis of the Upper Eyelid

Ptosis of the upper eyelid is one of the most commonly encountered clinical problems in oculoplastic surgery. Many causes of ptosis exist. Most cases of upper eyelid ptosis are caused by abnormalities of the levator muscle or aponeurosis. Congenital ptosis ( Figure 2.28 ) results from abnormal development of the levator muscle itself. Intraoperatively, this dystrophy presents as fatty infiltration of an otherwise normal muscle. The most common type of acquired ptosis, involutional ptosis , is generally thought to occur as a result of stretching or thinning of the aponeurosis, rather than of the muscle itself. Personally, I don’t agree with this, but it seems to be ingrained in the literature (there is more about the etiology of involutional ptosis later; an entire chapter is dedicated to the evaluation and treatment of ptosis). As an alternative to the CMMR procedure, levator aponeurosis advancement (LAA), or tightening, of the aponeurosis elevates the ptotic eyelid in all patients with some levator muscle function ( Figure 2.29 ). The LAA operation is the strongest of these operations but is more difficult and takes more time to learn and perform. You need to learn both the CMMR and LAA operations to be a great ptosis surgeon. There are many types of ptosis. For example, the loss of sympathetic innervation to Müller’s muscle causes a mild ptosis of the upper eyelid. This problem is known as Horner syndrome (see below).

Congenital ptosis of the left upper eyelid. Note that the skin crease is absent. The eyebrows are elevated to help lift the upper eyelid above the pupil.

Levator aponeurosis advancement operation (LAA). The levator aponeurosis is advanced and sewn onto the tarsal plate. All but the weakest of eyelids can be opened with this procedure.

Frontalis Muscle

No doubt you have already seen patients with drooping upper lids who lift their eyebrows to provide a bit more upper eyelid elevation. The frontalis muscle lifts the brows and is a weak retractor of the upper eyelids. The frontalis muscle is a part of the occipitofrontalis musculofascial complex (frontalis muscle, galea aponeurotica, and occipitalis muscle) of the scalp. This broad band of tissue extends across the top of the skull from the occiput to the eyebrows ( Figure 2.30 ). The A in the mnemonic for remembering the layers of the SCALP is this aponeurosis ( S , s calp, C , sub c utaneous tissue, A , a poneurosis, L , l oose areolar tissue, P , p eriosteum).

Frontalis muscle.

The fibrous aponeurosis becomes the frontalis muscle inferior to the hairline. Contraction of the frontalis muscle causes the horizontal furrows in the forehead ( Figure 2.31 ). Skin wrinkling always occurs perpendicular to the underlying facial muscles; this is a useful thing to know when planning incisions or learning to administer Botox. You may notice that the forehead furrows do not extend to the temporal hairline. The frontalis muscle thins laterally and does not extend to the tail of the brow. The lack of frontalis pull over the tail of the brow explains the temporal brow ptosis seen so commonly in older adults.

Forehead furrows form perpendicular to the direction of pull of the frontalis muscle.

Like the other muscles of facial expression, the frontalis muscle is innervated by a branch of the facial nerve. Unlike with other branches of the facial nerve, there is no redundancy in the innervation of the frontalis muscle. A single branch, the temporal branch of the facial nerve (also known as the frontal branch of the facial nerve) ( Figure 2.32 ), innervates the frontalis muscle. The path of the frontal branch can be estimated by drawing a line from the tragus of the ear to the point 1 cm above the tail of the eyebrow. Special care is taken to avoid damage to this nerve during any surgery near the path of the frontal branch. Damage to the nerve may leave the patient with a permanent paresis or paralysis of the frontalis muscle, resulting in a brow ptosis. In cases of severe eyelid ptosis where there is little movement of the upper eyelid, the eyelid lift provided by the frontalis muscle can be made more efficient by “suturing” the eyelid to the frontalis muscle (the frontalis sling operation). The sling procedure is most commonly performed in congenital ptosis cases with little or no levator muscle function.

The path of the temporal branch of the facial nerve. The temporal branch of the facial nerve is also known as the frontal branch.

Lower Eyelid Retractors

Although we do not think about the lower eyelid moving much, there are retractors in the lower eyelid, as well. The retractors of the lower eyelid are analogous to those of the upper eyelid but are less well developed. The lower eyelid equivalent to the levator muscle is the capsulopalpebral fascia , which is a band of fibrous tissue that extends from the inferior rectus muscle to the inferior margin of the lower eyelid tarsus ( Figure 2.33 ). As the capsulopalpebral fascia travels anteriorly from the inferior rectus muscle, the fascia splits to surround the inferior oblique muscle. Anterior to the inferior oblique muscle, the fascia reunites as a condensation of fibrous tissue known as Lockwood ’s suspensory ligament . This ligament is the equivalent of Whitnall’s ligament in the upper eyelid.

Cross section of the lower eyelid retractors.

The lower eyelid equivalent of Müller’s muscle is known as the inferior tarsal muscle . This poorly developed smooth muscle travels from Lockwood’s ligament to the inferior tarsus between the capsulopalpebral fascia and the conjunctiva. In the lower eyelid, the voluntary and autonomic portions of the retractors are not easily separated during surgery and are known collectively as the lower eyelid retractors .

Involutional Entropion

Two clinical examples of problems with the lower eyelid retractors are worth considering. You recall that a loose lower eyelid (horizontal eyelid laxity) tends to be unstable and can eventually evert (ectropion) or invert (entropion). Involutional entropion (attributable to aging changes) is caused by horizontal eyelid laxity in combination with laxity of the lower eyelid retractors. The normal posterior and inferior pull of the lower eyelid retractors into the orbit stabilizes the inferior margin of the tarsus. In combination with other factors, loss of the tension on the tarsus as a result of stretching or laxity of the retractors allows the inferior margin of the retractors to rotate upward. The eyelid margin turns inward against the eyeball ( Figure 2.34 ). An operation to tighten the lower eyelid retractors (analogous to correction of upper eyelid ptosis) corrects the entropion. Usually the horizontal eyelid laxity is treated with a lower eyelid tightening procedure at the same time.

Entropion of the lower eyelid caused by laxity of the lower eyelid retractors.

Preaponeurotic Fat

Before we leave this topic, we should address two other important surgical structures, the preaponeurotic fat and the orbital septum. The preaponeurotic orbital fat ( Figure 2.35 ) is the surgical landmark identifying the levator aponeurosis. Every time you perform ptosis surgery from the skin approach, you see the orbital fat. In your early experience, you intentionally identify the fat to help you find the underlying aponeurosis. There are two fat pads that compose the upper eyelid preaponeurotic fat, the central and the medial fat pads . Later, the terms intraconal space and extraconal space are introduced, which pertain to compartments in the orbit. For now, keep in mind that the preaponeurotic fat is extraconal fat, or fatty tissue, lying outside the muscle cone of the orbit. The central and medial fat pads are enclosed in a thin fibrous capsule with small vessels. The medial fat pad is smaller than the central fat pad and whiter in color. Brian Sires showed that there are more carotenoids in the preaponeurotic fat than in the nasal fat. There is no lateral fat pad in the upper eyelid. The lacrimal gland is in the preaponeurotic space laterally. The lacrimal gland can be differentiated from the fat because the gland is more irregular in texture and is whitish-gray in appearance rather than yellow. The fat itself is relatively avascular, whereas the lacrimal gland is well vascularized.

The preaponeurotic fat. ( A ) There are two fat pads in the upper eyelid, the nasal and central (preaponeurotic) pads. There are three fat pads in the lower eyelid, the nasal, central, and lateral fat pads. ( B ) The nasal fat pad ( NF ) is separated from the central fat pad ( CF ) by the inferior oblique muscle ( two large arrowheads ). The lateral fat pad ( LF ) is separated from the central fat pad by the septoaponeurotic membrane ( small arrows ), often seen as a diagonal line causing indentation in the lower eyelid skin (visible in Figure 2.37 ).

As in the upper eyelid, identification of the fat pads is the key to identifying the lower eyelid retractors. In the lower eyelids, there are three fat pads: the medial , central , and lateral fat pads (see Figure 2.35 ). As you would expect, these fat pads are found posterior to the orbital septum and anterior to the lower eyelid retractors. Prolapse, or bulging of the lower eyelid fat pads, is a common cosmetic concern. The main goal of the lower eyelid blepharoplasty operation is to eliminate this prolapse.

Orbital Septum

Anterior to the preaponeurotic fat is a tough fibrous layer that extends from the orbital rims to the tarsal plates known as the orbital septum ( Figure 2.36 ). The septum is the anatomic boundary between the eyelids and the orbit, lying between the orbicularis muscle and the orbital fat. If fat is seen in an eyelid laceration, it means that the septum has been cut and that deeper tissues, including the eye or even the brain, may be injured. An intact septum means that there has been no penetration into the orbit from the anterior aspect. Infections of the eyelid are prevented from extending posteriorly by the orbital septum. As well as preventing infection from spreading posteriorly, the septum prevents the orbital contents from bulging anteriorly. As we discussed earlier, with age, the septum thins and the orbital fat prolapses forward, accounting for some of the fullness seen in the upper and lower eyelids of adults ( Figure 2.37 ). This difference is seen in the thickness of the septum in pediatric and adult eyelid operations.

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