ANATOMY OF EYE BALL,

CORNEA, LENS, CILIARY

BODY, CHAMBERS,
RETINA

Dr Rajeev Panwar
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Anatomy
SSSMCRI
SPECIFIC LEARNING OBJECTIVE

 To understand gross anatomy of orbit and its content

 To know about applied anatomy of orbit and its

contents
CONTENTS
 Orbit
 Introduction
 Boundaries
 Orbital fascia or periorbita
 Axis of eyeball

 Fascia bulbi
 Extra-ocular muscles
 Eyeball
 Nerves of orbit
 Ophthalmic artery
 Ophthalmic veins
 Applied anatomy
ORBIT
 ORBIT – INTRODUCTION
 Pair of pyramidal-shaped bony
cavities

 Located on either side of root of

nose

 Provides sockets for rotatory

movements of eyeballs

 Medial walls– parallel to each other

 Lateral walls – at right angle to

each other
 ORBIT – BOUNDARIES
 Medial wall
 Lateral wall
 Roof
 Floor
 Apex – directed behind at optic canal
 Base – forward represented by orbital
margin
 Supraorbital margin
 Infraorbital margin
 Medial orbital margin
 Lateral orbital margin
Medial wall (thinnest):
 Formed by
 Frontal process of maxilla.
 Lacrimal process of maxilla.
 Orbital plate of ethmoid.
 Body of sphenoid

Features
 Lacrimal fossa
 Bounded
 In front by – anterior lacrimal crest of maxilla
 Behind by – posterior lacrimal crest of lacrimal bone
 Communicates with nasal cavity through
nasolacrimal canal
 Lacrimal fossa & nasolacrimal canal lodge
lacrimal sac & nasolacrimal duct, respectively.
 Anterior & posterior ethmoidal foramina
 lie at junction between medial wall & roof of orbit.
Lateral wall (strongest)
 Formed by
 Orbital surface of zygomatic bone
 Orbital surface of greater wing of sphenoid

Features
 Zygomatic foramen
 Two small foramina for zygomaticofacial &
zygomaticotemporal nerves

 Whitnall’s tubercle
 Small bony tubercle just behind lateral
orbital margin & below frontozygomatic
suture.
Floor:
 Formed by

 Orbital surface of body of maxilla.

 Orbital surface of zygomatic bone

 Orbital process of palatine bone

Features

 Infraorbital groove & canal.

 Small rough impression in anteromedial

angle for origin of inferior oblique muscle.

Roof:
 Formed by

 Orbital plate of frontal bone

 Lesser wing of sphenoid

Features

 Fossa for lacrimal gland in anterolateral part

 Trochlear notch or spine at anteromedial angle

 Optic canal at extreme posterior part

 Apex:
 At posterior end of orbit
 Formed by sphenoid
 Base:
 Open & quadrangular
 Boundaries form orbital margins
 Supraorbital margin
 formed by frontal bone and
 presents supraorbital notch or foramen

 Infraorbital margin
 Formed by zygomatic bone laterally & maxilla medially
 Continuous with anterior lacrimal crest medially

 Medial orbital margin

 Ill-defined
 Formed by frontal bone above & lacrimal crest of frontal
process of maxilla below
 Lateral orbital margin
 formed by zygomatic process of frontal bone above & frontal
process of zygomatic bone below.
Orbital fascia or periorbita
 Periosteum of bony orbit

 Lines bony boundaries of orbit

 Forms a funnel-shaped fascial sheath

that encloses orbital contents

 Loosely attached to bones, can be

easily stripped off

 At optic canal & superior orbital

fissure, continuous with endocranium

 At infraorbital fissure & orbital

margins, continuous with periosteum
AXIS OF EYEBALL
 Visual (optic axis)

 Straight line passing through

geometrical centre of a lens

 Orbital axis

 Line that passes through apex

of bony orbit (optic canal) &

center of opening of orbit

 CONTENT OF ORBIT

1. Fascia bulbi
5. Ophthalmic artery.
2. Extra-ocular muscles
3. Eyeball 6. Ophthalmic veins.

4. Nerves
(a) Optic
(b) Oculomotor
(c) Trochlear
(d) Abducent
(e) Ophthalmic
(f) Ciliary ganglion.
Fascia bulbi or fascial sheath of
eyeball (Tenon’s capsule)

 Loose membranous sheath, envelops

eyeball
 Extends from optic nerve to sclerocorneal
junction
 Separated from sclera by episcleral space
 Forms a socket for eyeball to facilitate free
ocular movements
 Pierced by:
 Tendons of four recti & two oblique muscles
of eyeball
 Ciliary nerves & vessels
SUSPENSORY & CHECK LIGAMENTS OF EYE
 Lateral check ligament –
 a triangular expansion of fascial sleeve
attached to lateral wall of orbit
 Medial check ligament –
 a triangular expansion from sleeve of
medial rectus attached to medial wall
of orbit
 Suspensory ligament of eye (or
suspensory ligament of
Lockwood)
 hammock-like support for eyeball
formed due to thickening of fascial
sleeve of inferior rectus & blending
with sleeve of inferior oblique as well
as with medial and lateral check
ligaments
MUSCLES OF ORBIT
EXTRAOCULAR MUSCLES
Voluntary Muscles Involuntary Muscles
 Muscle moving eyeball  Three involuntary
 Four recti muscles /smooth muscles
 (a) Superior rectus,
 (b) Inferior rectus,  Superior tarsal or
 (c) Medial rectus, and

 (d) Lateral rectus. Muller's muscle

 Two oblique muscles
 (a) Superior oblique,  Inferior tarsal
 (b) Inferior oblique.

 Muscle acting on upper  Orbitalis

eyelid
 One levator palpebrae
superioris.
VOLUNTARY MUSCLE
Recti muscles
 Origin:
 All recti arise from corresponding
margins of common tendinous ring
 Common tendinous ring encloses
optic canal & middle part of superior
orbital fissure
 Insertion:
 All recti are inserted into sclera little
posterior to limbus (corneo-scleral
junction) in front of equator of
eyeball Average distance from
limbus is:
 Medial rectus – 5 mm
 Inferior rectus – 6 mm

 Lateral rectus – 7 mm

 Superior rectus – 8 mm
 OBLIQUE MUSCLE
Superior oblique
 Origin –
 from body of sphenoid, supero-
medial to optic canal
 Insertion –
 Into sclera behind equator in
posterior superior quadrant of
eyeball
Inferior oblique
 Origin –
 from anteromedial angle of floor
of orbit
 Insertion –
 Into sclera behind equator in
posterosuperior quadrant of
eyeball, below and behind
insertion of SO
 ACTIONS OF MUSCLES ON EYEBALL
 Axis of Movements of
Eyeball
 Elevation & depression: around
transverse axis passing through
equator
 Adduction & abduction: around
vertical axis passing through
equator
 Rotation (torsion): around
anteroposterior axis extending
from anterior pole to posterior pole
of eyeball.
 When 12 o’clock position of cornea
rotates medially – Intorsion
 When rotates laterally – extorsion
Actions of Individual Muscles
 Superior rectus (SR): elevation,
adduction, intorsion
 Medial rectus (MR): adduction.
 Inferior rectus (IR): depression,
adduction, extorsion.
 Lateral rectus (LR): abduction.
 Superior oblique (SO): depression,
abduction, intorsion
 Inferior oblique (IO): elevation,
abduction, extorsion.
Associated Movements of Eyeball
• Conjugate movements: when both eyes move in same direction
with visual axes being parallel.
• Dis-conjugate movements: when axes of both eyes
• converge or diverge.
 NERVE SUPPLY OF EXTRA-OCULAR MUSCLES
 All the extraocular muscles

(except Superior oblique &

lateral rectus) – by oculomotor

nerve (III CN)

 Superior oblique – trochlear

nerve ( IV CN)

 Lateral rectus – abducent nerve

(VI CN) SO4LR6 Rest3

Levator palpebrae superioris
(LPS) muscle
Origin:
 from under-surface of lesser wing
of sphenoid at apex of orbit
Insertion
 Divides into three lamellae:
 Upper lamella consisting of
skeletal muscle penetrates into skin
of upper eyelid
 Intermediate lamella consisting
of smooth muscle (superior tarsal
muscle) inserted on to upper border
of superior tarsal plate.
 Lower lamella consisting of
connective tissue, inserted on to
superior fornix of conjunctiva.
Levator palpebrae superioris (LPS)
muscle

 Nerve supply

 Striped (skeletal muscle) part by upper

division of oculomotor nerve

 Unstriped (smooth muscle) part by

postganglionic sympathetic fibres from

superior cervical ganglion

 Actions:

 Elevation of upper eyelid to open eye.

EYEBALL
 STRUCTURE OF EYEBALL
 Also called globe of eye

 Closely resembles a camera

 Has light-sensitive retina &

provided with a lens system
(cornea, lens, and refractive
media) for focusing images &
device for controlling amount of
light admitted (iris diaphragm)
Location
 Eyeball occupies anterior 1/3 of
orbital cavity

 Embedded in fat

 Enclosed in thin fibrous sheath

(Tenon’s fascia), which
separates eyeball from fat

 Optic nerve emerges from it, a

little medial to its posterior
pole
STRUCTURE OF EYEBALL
TUNICS OF EYEBALL

 Eyeball consists of three

concentric coats

 Outer fibrous coat – sclera &

cornea

 Middle vascular coat –

choroid, ciliary body & iris

 Inner nervous coat – retina

OUTER FIBROUS COAT – CORNEO-SCLERAL COAT
Cornea
 Anterior 1/6th of outer coat
 Bulges forwards from sclera at
corneoscleral junction – limbus
 Transparent & more convex
 Features
 Vascular & nourished by
permeation of nutrients from
loops of capillaries at limbus,
aqueous humour & lacrimal
fluid.
 Permits light to enter eye & also
reflects entering light
 Highly sensitive & supplied by
ophthalmic division of trigeminal
nerve.
 Nerves of cornea form afferent
limb of corneal reflex
MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE CORNEA
 Corneal epithelium:
 Non-keratinized stratified squamous
epithelium.
 Anterior limiting membrane (or
Bowman’s membrane):
 Made up structureless homogeneous mass
without any elastic fibres
 Substantia propria (corneal stroma):
 Made up of lamellae of fine collagen fibres,
which cross each other at right angles to
form corneal spaces.
 Flattened fibroblasts located between
lamellae.
 Transparency of cornea – due to lattice
arrangement of lamellae embedded in
ground substance.
 Posterior limiting membrane
/Descemet’s membrane:
 Made up of structureless homogeneous mass
containing elastic fibres.
 Endothelium:
 Consists of a single layer of low cuboidal
cells.
OUTER FIBROUS COAT – CORNEO-SCLERAL COAT
Sclera
 Posterior five-sixth of outer coat.
 Consists of dense fibrous tissue
 Thinnest at equator
 Thickest at back
 Weakest at site of emergence of optic
nerve
 Continuous anteriorly with cornea
 Corneoscleral junction –
 Junction between sclera & cornea
 Sinus venosus sclerae (canal of
Schlemm)
 Circularly running canal behind
corneoscleral junction
 Scleral spur
 Triangular projection posterior to
canal
 Provides attachment to ciliary
muscle
 Functions of Sclera
 Helps to maintain shape of eyeball.
 Protects internal structures.
 Provides attachment to extraocular
muscles
 Structure Piercing Sclera
 Optic nerve
 Perforating fibres of nerve make area
sieve-like (lamina cribrosa)

 Posterior ciliary vessels & nerves

 Around optic nerve

 Anterior ciliary arteries

 Pierce close to corneoscleral junction.

 Four choroidal veins

 Pierce just behind equator
 VASCULAR COAT OR UVEA OR UVEAL TRACT

 Contains most of blood vessels of

eyeball so called vascular coat

 Also contains a large number of

melanin-containing cells.

 Consists of three parts (from

behind forwards):

 Choroid

 Ciliary body

 Iris
 CHOROID
 Posterior part of uvea
 Brown, thin, and highly vascular
membrane
 Lines inner surface of sclera.
 Anteriorly – connected to iris by
ciliary body
 Posteriorly – pierced by optic nerve
 Arteries:
 Derived from short ciliary arteries
 Veins:
 Arranged in form of whorls,
converge to form venae vorticosae,
pierce sclera just behind equator to
open into ophthalmic veins.
 Inner surface of choroid is firmly
attached to retina & nourishes
rods & cones of retina by diffusion.
 CHOROID – STRUCTURE
1. Suprachoroid lamina (lamina 1
fusca): 2
 Consists of loose network of elastic
and collagen fibres 3

 Traversed by long posterior ciliary

vessels & nerves. 4
2. Vascular lamina:
 Consists of loose areolar tissue &
pigment cells.
 Contains branches of short posterior
ciliary arteries and veins
3. Capillary lamina (capillary
layer of choroid):
 Consists of fine network of
capillaries, which nourish
photoreceptors of retina
4. Basal lamina (membrane of
Bruch):
 Thin transparent membrane, which
is firmly attached to pigment cell
layer of the retina.
Ciliary Body
 Thickening in vascular tunic,
between choroid & iris
 Situated posterior to corneoscleral
junction
 Suspend lens via suspensory
ligaments
 Parts of ciliary body
 Ciliary ring
 Outer fibrous ring, continuous with
choroid
 Ciliary processes
 Folds on inner aspect of ciliary body
 Between ciliary ring & iris
 Provide attachment to fibres of
suspensory ligament of lens. Functions
 Are complex of capillaries & cuboidal
epithelium, secretes aqueous humour • To focus lens for near vision.
 Ciliary muscle
 Small unstriped (smooth) muscle mass
consisting of mainly two types of Outer
radial & Inner circular fibres
Iris
 Contractile diaphragm between
cornea & lens.

 Pupil - opening in centre of iris

 Iris attached at periphery to

ciliary body.

 Iridocorneal angle – formed

by ciliary body & narrow rim of
sclera peripheral to attachment
of iris to ciliary body
Structure of Iris
(from before backwards)
1. Anterior mesothelial lining
2. A connective tissue layer
3. A layer of smooth muscle
 Constrictor pupillae (made of
circular fibres)
 Dilator pupillae— (made up of
radial fibres)
 Nerve supply:
 Constrictor pupillae – by
parasympathetic fibres
 Dilator pupillae – by sympathetic
fibres
 Actions:
 Constriction & dilatation of pupil
4. A posterior layer of pigment
cells
Retina
 Innermost coat of eyeball
 Present between choroid & hyaloid
membrane of vitreous.
 Anteriorly presents an irregular
edge – ora serrata
 Outer layer –
 Insensitive to light
 Made up of pigmented cuboidal
epithelium.
 Neural retina
 Inner sensory layer of retina
 Sensitive to light
 Made up of photoreceptors cells
called rods and cones
 Nerve fibres arising from ganglion
cells covers inner surface & collect in
inferomedial region, and pierce outer
two coats of eyeball and emerge as
optic nerve.
Microscopic structure of Retina
COMPARTMENTS OF EYEBALL

 Interior of eyeball divided

into two compartments by

lens:

 Anterior compartment –

In front of lens

 Posterior compartment –

behind lens
ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT
 Divided into two chambers:
 Anterior chamber – between
iris & cornea
 Posterior chamber – between
iris & lens
 Two chambers communicate
with each other through pupil.
 Two chambers are filled with
an aqueous humour
 Aqueous humour
 Helps in maintaining intraocular
pressure.
 Rich in ascorbic acid, glucose,
and amino acids.
 Nourishes cornea & lens
 CIRCULATION OF AQUEOUS HUMOUR
Aqueous humour secreted
in posterior chamber by
ciliary processes

Passes into anterior chamber

through pupil

Passes through spaces in

iridocorneal angle

Enter into canal of Schlemm

Drained by anterior ciliary veins

POSTERIOR COMPARTMENT
 Behind lens
 Larger than anterior
compartment
 Surrounded almost completely
by retina
 Filled with colourless,
transparent jelly-like substance
– vitreous humour/ vitreous
body
 Vitreous humour
 Enclosed in hyaloid membrane.
 Anteriorly, hyaloid membrane
forms a depression hyaloid fossa
in which lens rests
 Helps in maintaining intraocular
pressure & shape of eyeball
LENS
 Transparent, biconvex body,

 Placed between anterior &

posterior compartments of

eyeball

 External Features

 Anterior & posterior surfaces.

 Anterior & posterior poles.

 A circumference—the equator.
 REFRACTILE MEDIA

 These include:

 Cornea (very refractive but not adjustable).

 Aqueous humour.

 Lens (refractive and adjustable).

 Vitreous humour/vitreous body.

 All these media together form refractive apparatus

of eye
NERVES OF ORBIT
 Optic Nerve
 4 cm long
 Entire nerve enclosed in three
meningeal sheaths derived from
meninges of brain
 Relations
 Optic nerve crossed superiorly from
before backward by:
 Superior ophthalmic vein
 Ophthalmic artery
 Nasociliary nerve
 Oculomotor Nerve
 Smaller superior division
 Superior rectus
 Levator palpebrae superioris
 Larger inferior division
 Medial rectus
 Inferior rectus
 Inferior oblique (nerve to inferior
oblique gives off parasympathetic
motor root to the ciliary ganglion)
 Trochlear Nerve

 Supplies – Superior oblique

 Abducent Nerve

 Supply – lateral rectus.

 Ophthalmic Nerve

 First & smallest of three

divisions of trigeminal nerve

 Purely sensory

 Divide into three branches:

 Lacrimal nerve

 Frontal nerve

 Nasociliary nerve
Ciliary Ganglion
 Peripheral parasympathetic ganglion
 Connected with nasociliary nerve
 Topographically – connected to nasociliary nerve
 Functionally – connected to oculomotor nerve
 Roots –

Motor (parasympathetic) Sensory root: Sympathetic root

root:

Derived from Nerve to inferior oblique Nasociliary nerve sympathetic plexus around
internal carotid artery

Consist of Preganglionic Sensory fibres (for Post-ganglionic

parasympathetic fibres from pain, touch, sympathetic fibres from
Edinger–Westphal nucleus temperature) from superior cervical
eyeball sympathetic ganglion

Relay at Yes No No
ganglion
Postganglionic Pass through short ciliary Pass through short ciliary
fibres nerves nerves
Supply Ciliary muscle & sphincter Dilator pupillae & blood
pupillae vessels of eyeball
Diagram showing Roots and distribution of
ciliary ganglion
BLOOD SUPPLY OF ORBIT
 OPHTHALMIC ARTERY
 Branch of internal carotid artery 1. Posterior ethmoidal artery
 Enters orbit through optic canal  supplies ethmoidal air sinuses,
inferolateral to optic nerve nasal cavity, and dura mater.
 Branches of ophthalmic artery:
2. Anterior ethmoidal artery
1. Central artery of the retina
Supplies  supplies ethmoidal air sinuses,
 Optic nerve
medial and lateral wall of nasal
 Inner 6/7 layers of retina cavity, and dura mater.
2. Lacrimal artery 3. Dorsal (external) nasal
Supply: artery
 Glandular branches to lacrimal gland.
 supplies lower part of dorsum of
 Two lateral palpebral arteries—one to
each eyelid. nose.
 Two zygomatic branches: 4. Supratrochlear artery
zygomaticofacial &
zygomaticotemporal.  supply the forehead.
 Recurrent meningeal branch
5. Medial palpebral branches,
 Muscular branches.
 anastomose with corresponding
3. Posterior ciliary arteries
(Long & short ciliary arteries) lateral palpebral branches of the
Supply lacrimal artery.
 Choroid
 Sclera
 OPHTHALMIC VEINS
 Ophthalmic veins drain orbit
 Receive tributaries, correspond to
branches of ophthalmic artery
 Superior ophthalmic vein:
 Large vein
 Accompanies the ophthalmic artery
 Drain into cavernous sinus
 Communicates anteriorly at its
commencement with supraorbital &
angular veins
 Inferior ophthalmic vein:
 Ends either by joining superior ophthalmic
vein or drain directly into cavernous sinus.
 Communicates with pterygoid venous
plexus by small veins
APPLIED ANATOMY
Strabismus/squint:
 Due to Unilateral paralysis of an individual muscle due to
involvement of nerves
 Deviation of eye to opposite side
 Result in diplopia (double vision).
 Light from an object not focused on identical areas of both
retinae.
 Real image falls on macula of unaffected eye
 False image falls on peripheral part of retina of paralyzed eye

Muscle paralyzed Nerve involved Effects

Lateral rectus Abducent Medial squint

Medial rectus Oculomotor Lateral squint

Paralysis of levator palpebrae superioris:

 Paralysis of levator palpebrae superioris due to involvement

of oculomotor nerve leads to complete ptosis (drooping of

upper eyelid).

 Lesion of cervical sympathetic chain (as in Horner’s

syndrome) leads to partial ptosis (partial drooping of upper

eyelid) as it affects only smooth muscle part of LPS.

 Corneal opacity:
 Injury to cornea may cause opacity
 May interfere with vision
 Most common injuries –corneal injury by foreign bodies
 Corneal graft:
 Lack of vascularity and lymph vessels accounts for great
success of corneal grafts
 Cornea is successfully grafted from one person to other.
 Corneal reflex
 Elicited clinically by gentle touching of cornea with wisp of
cotton wool.
 As cornea touched – both eyes are closed.
 Pathway:
 Ophthalmic nerve (afferent limb) → Main sensory nucleus of
trigeminal nerve → Reticular formation → Both facial nerves
(efferent limbs)
 Retinal detachment:
 Separation of two layers of retina (i.e., pigment & neural
layers)
 Glaucoma:
 Abnormal increase in intraocular pressure due to block in
drainage of aqueous humour

 Severe pain in eye due to pressure on cornea.

 Variety of visual problems, viz. blindness due to compression

of retina and its blood supply.

 Intraocular pressure
 Normal value – 15 mmHg

 Can be measured on anesthetized cornea (tonometry).

Cataract:

 Appearance of opacity on the lens

 Increasing opacity leads to increasing visual

impairment.

 Treatment

 Surgical excision of opaque lens and replacement

with an artificial lens.