Ocular Anatomy and

Physiology
MYRA OBCENA DE LEON, OD
Clinical Coordinator
Davao Doctors College

OVERVIEW OF THE SUBJECT

This course deals with the study of the gross
structures and histologic layers of the different
parts of the human eye. This also includes the
study of its function, the inter-relationship of the
intra-ocular tissues or structures and the
correlation of each part or function in clinical
application.
3 units Lecture / 1 unit Laboratory
3 hours lec / 3 hrs lab / week
54 hrs Lec / 54 hrs Lab / sem

ANATOMICAL TERMS OF REFERENCE

ANATOMICAL TERMS OF REFERENCE

Imaginary Planes that divides the body:
Median or Mid-sagittal plane
divides the body into right or left
halves
Sagittal anything parallel to the
median plane
Coronal (frontal) divides the body
into front and back
Transverse (horizontal) Plane
Invisible line that divides the body
into equal top and bottom halves
at right angles with the median
and
coronal planes

ANATOMICAL TERMS OF REFERENCE

Relative positions of anatomical
structures:
Medial nearer the median or
mid-sagittal plane
Lateral away from the median
plane
Superior - cranial or rostral
position in the
Inferior caudal
vertical

Medial
Closer to the Sagittal Plane
The inside

Lateral
Further away from the Sagittal
Plane
The outside

Proximal
Something that is closer to the middle of
the body or something is closer to the
middle of the body than something else
closer
Proximal sounds like proximity

Distal
Something that is further from the middle of the
body or something is further from the middle of
the body than something else
further away
Distal sounds like distance

superior

Inferior / Superior

Superior Above or top

inferior

Inferior Below or bottom

Anterior
Ventral
Front or in front of
A view from the front

Posterior

Dorsal
Back or behind
something
A view from the back

SUPERFICIAL / DEEP
SUPERFICIAL
Toward or at the surface of
the body
DEEP
Away from the
surface of the body

NASAL / TEMPORAL
Nasal near the nose
Temporal near the
temples

TE
M
P
O
R
AL

N
A
S
AL

TE
M
P
O
R
AL

THE SKULL

GENERAL ARRANGEMENT OF THE

SKULL
Skull - composed of a mixture of highly modified axial
skeleton elements (occipital bone) and craniofacial
skeleton
Craniofacial skeleton - divided into two parts:
upper part shaped like a bowl, which contains the
brain, known as the cranium or neurocranium
lower part, the facial skeleton or viscerocranium.
The cranium can be further subdivided into:
cranial vault
cranial base.

Features of the Skull:

The skull is composed of a large number of
separate bones that are united by sutures
(fibrous immovable joints).
The cranium consists of eight bones (only 2 are
paired)
The facial skeleton consists of 14 bones, of
which only two are single.

The Cranial Bones:

Frontal Bone
Parietal Bone
Temporal Bone
Occipital Bone
Sphenoid Bone
Ethmoid Bone

TheFacial Bones:

Zygomatic Bone
Lacrimal Bone
Mandible Bone
Maxilla Bone
Palatine Bone
Nasal, Vomer, Inferior
Turbinate Bone

Frontal bone
The
large
cranial
bone
forming
the
front part of
the
cranium;
the
forehead
and the upper
part
of
the
orbits

Parietal bone
Either of two
skull
bones
between
the
frontal
and
occipital bones
and forming the

Temporal bone
Forms parts of
the side of the
side of the skull
and the floor of
the
cranial
cavity. There is
a right and left
temporal bone.

 Occipital bone a saucer-shaped membrane

bone that forms the back of the skull

Maxilla forms most of the upper

jaw, and part of the hard palate,
contains upper molars, premolars,
and canines
Lacrimal bone small fragile bone making up
part of the front inner walls of each socket
and providing room for the passage of the
lacrimal ducts

Nasal bone an elongated rectangular

bone that forms the bridge of the nose

Palatine bone either of two irregular shaped bones

that form the back of the hard palate and helps to
form the nasal cavity and the floor of the orbits

Zygomatic bone the arch of

bone beneath the eye that forms
the prominence of the cheek

Sphenoid

Mandible
The lower
jawbone in
vertebrates

Ethmoid bone
An
unpairedbonein
theskullthat
separates
thenasal
cavityfrom
thebrain. It is

An
unpairedboneof
theneurocranium.
It is situated in the
middle of the skull
towards the front,
in front of the
temporal bone and
basilar
part
of
theoccipital bone.

 The skull contains a number of cavities that reflect its

multiple functions:
Cranial cavity houses, supports and protects the
brain
Nasal cavity concerned with respiration and
olfaction
Orbits contain the eyes and adnexa
Oral cavity start of gastrointestinal tract,
responsible for mastication and initial food
processing; houses taste receptors

Norma Frontalis

Norma Lateralis

OSTEOLOGY OF THE ORBIT

The two orbital cavities are situated between the
cranium and facial skeleton and are separated
from each other by the nasal cavity and the
ethmoidal and sphenoidal air sinuses.
Each orbit is a socket that accommodates and
protects the eye and adnexa, and serves to
transmit the nerves and vessels that supply the
face around the orbit.

OSTEOLOGY OF THE ORBIT

Parts of the following bones contribute to
the walls of the orbit
Sphenoid
Palatine
Ethmoid
Lacrimal
Frontal
Zygomatic
Maxilla

OSTEOLOGY OF THE ORBIT

The orbit - roughly the shape of a quadrilateral
pyramid
base - orbital margin a
apex - optic canal.
It has a floor, roof, medial wall and lateral wall.
The floor tapers off before the apex; therefore
the apex of the pyramid is triangular.

OSTEOLOGY OF THE ORBIT

The orbit is widest approximatey 1.5cm behind
the orbital margin.
The walls are mostly triangular except the
medial wall, which is oblong.
The medial walls are approximately parallel to
the mid-sagittal plane, while the lateral walls are
oriented at an angle of approximately 45 to this
plane.
The orbital aperture is directed forwards,
laterally and slightly downwards.

OSTEOLOGY OF THE ORBIT

Nerves and muscles passing from the apex into
the orbit pass forward and laterally.
The orbit is approximately 40 mm in height, 40
mm in width and 40 mm in depth.
The volume is approximately 30ml, of which onefifth is occupied by the eye.

WALLS OF THE ORBIT

Formed by the:
frontal bone
lesser wing of the sphenoid
Triangular
Thin, translucent and fragile
except at the lesser wing of
the sphenoid (3mm thick)
Separated the orbit form the
anterior cranial fossa and the
frontal lobes of the brain
Occasionally in old age
portions of the bone may be
absorbed, and then the
periorbita is in direct contact
with the dura mater of the
anterior cranial fossa.

R
O
OF

WALLS OF THE ORBIT

Consists of 4 bones
(separated by vertical
sutures
The frontal process of the
maxilla
The lacrimal bone
The orbital plate of the
ethmoid
A small part of the body
of the sphenoid

M
ED
IA
L

WALLS OF THE ORBIT

The only wall which is not
obviously triangular.
It is roughly oblong in
shape, either quite flat or
slightly convex towards
the orbital cavity.
The thinnest of the walls
(0.2 0.4mm)and is
largely transparent or
semi-transparent

M
ED
IA
L

WALLS OF THE ORBIT

Formed by :
Maxilla(orbital plate) - forms
the largest part.
Zygomatic(orbital surface) forms the antero-lateral part.
Palatine bone(orbital process)
- forms a small area behind
the maxilla.

FL
O
O
R

WALLS OF THE ORBIT

Thicker than the medial wall,
is more often involved in
orbital blow-out fractures
Only 0.5mm 1mm in
thickness
Lacks the buttress-like
supports of the ethmoidal air
cells and the protection of the
nose
Tumors spreads to or from the
maxillary sinus may occur via
the floor of the orbit

FL
O
O
R

WALLS OF THE ORBIT

Formed by two bones :
Posteriorly by the orbital
surface of the greater wing
of the sphenoid
Anteriorly by the orbital
surface of the zygomatic
bone.
The thickest of the orbital
walls, especially strong at
the orbital margin

LA
TE
RA
L

ORBITAL MARGIN
A thickened rim of bine that helps protect the
orbital contents.
Bones that makes up the orbital margin:
Frontal
Zygomatic
Maxilla

ORBITAL MARGIN
Quadrilateral with rounded corners; usually has
the form of a spiral
The inferior orbital margin is continuous with the
anterior lacrimal crest
Superior - continued down into the posterior
lacrimal crest.
Lacrimal fossa - lies in the orbital margin.

ORBITAL MARGIN
Lateral Margin thickest because it is most
exposed; more prone to trauma
- Concave forward; does not reach as far
anteriorly as the
medial margin
Medial Margin sharp and distinct in its lower half
because of the anterior lacrimal crest but is
indistinct superiorly

ORBITAL MARGIN
Each side measures some 40mm.
Usually the width is greater than the height;
relation between the two is given by the orbital
index, varies in the different races of mankind.
The orbital index = Height of orbit x 100
Width of orbit

ORBITAL MARGIN
Classes of the Orbit
CLASSES OF THE
ORBIT

Megaseme
(large/round)

Mesoseme
(intermediate)

Microseme
(small/rectangular)

ORBITAL INDEX

> 89

RACE

yellow races,
except the
Esquimaux;
Mongolians

white races
(European 87,
between 89 and 83
English 88.4);
Caucasians
< 83

black races;
Negroes

FISSURES & CANALS BETWEEN

WALLS OF ORBIT
Superior orbital fissure

Inferior orbital fissure

Optic canal or foramen

FISSURES & CANALS BETWEEN WALLS OF ORBIT

Superior orbital fissure

Sphenoidal fissure
gap between lesser & greater wings of sphenoid
closed laterally by frontal bone
lies between the roof and lateral wall of the orbit
Largest communication between the orbital and
cranial cavities.

FISSURES & CANALS BETWEEN WALLS OF ORBIT

Superior orbital fissure

Comma-shaped; wider at its medial end and

narrowest at its lateral end
Around 22 mm long; separated from the optic
foramen above by the posterior roof of the lesser
wing of the sphenoid
Part of the common tendinous ring that gives
origin to the lateral rectus spans between the
narrow and wide parts of the fissure.

FISSURES & CANALS BETWEEN WALLS OF ORBIT

Superior orbital fissure

Structures above or outside the tendinous ring or

annulus:
a. Lacrimal nerve
b. Frontal nerve
c. Trochlear nerve
d. Superior ophthalmic vein
e. Recurrent branch of the lacrimal artery

FISSURES & CANALS BETWEEN WALLS OF ORBIT

Superior orbital fissure

Structures passing within the ring (within the apex

of the muscle cone)
Oculomotor nerve (superior and
inferior divisions)
Abducent nerve
Nasociliary nerve
Sympathetic root of the ciliary ganglion
Variably, inferior ophthalmic vein

FISSURES & CANALS BETWEEN WALLS OF ORBIT

Inferior orbital fissure

Transmits:
infraorbital nerve
zygomatic nerve
branches from pterygopalatine ganglion
lies between the orbital wall and floor of the
orbit
Forms a communication between the orbit
and the infratemporal fossa and
pterygopalatine fossa
Posterior end lies below and lateral to the
optic foramen near the superior orbital fissure

FISSURES & CANALS BETWEEN WALLS OF ORBIT

Inferior orbital fissure

Runs forward and laterally for

approximately 20mm and ends
20mm form the orbital margin
Narrowest in the medial section
and in life is covered by
periorbita and a sheet of smooth
muscle of unknown function, the
orbitalis or Muscle of Muller

FISSURES & CANALS BETWEEN WALLS OF ORBIT

Optic Canal

Optic foramen
a bony channel in the sphenoid
passes anteriorly and laterally 36
from the middle cranial fossa to the
apex of the orbit
Formed by the 2 roots of the lesser
wing of the sphenoid

FISSURES & CANALS BETWEEN WALLS OF ORBIT

Optic Canal

2 optic canals are 25mm apart

posteriorly; 30mm anteriorly
Each canal is funnel shaped, narrowest
anteriorly where its opening into the
orbital is oval with sharp upper and
lower borders and a prolonged roof
(10-12mm in length)

FISSURES & CANALS BETWEEN WALLS OF ORBIT

Optic Canal

Opening at the cranial aspect - oval

with a prolonged floor
Sphenoidal and posterior ethmoidal air
sinuses important medial relations
Olfactory tracts are superior relations
of the canal
Transmits:
optic nerve (with its meningeal
coverings)
ophthalmic artery

CHANGES IN THE ORBIT WITH AGE

SHAPE

HEIGHT

WIDTH

INDEX

FETUS

Oval

14mm

18 mm

77.7

NEWBORN

Round

27 mm

27 mm

100

28 mm

33 mm

84.4

35 mm

40 mm

89.2

Quadrilate
7 YRS OLD
ral
Quadrilate
ADULT
ral

CHANGES IN THE ORBIT WITH AGE

newborn

5 yr old
elderly

14 yrs old

adult

CHANGES IN THE ORBIT WITH AGE

The orbital margin is sharp and well ossified at
birth; eyeball is therefore well protected from
stress and injury during parturition
- @ 7 yrs - less sharp (except at its upper
part); orbital
opening tends to be triangular
The orbital fissures are relatively large in the
child
The orbital index is high in the child, the vertical
diameter of the orbital opening being practically
the same as the horizontal, but later the

CHANGES IN THE ORBIT WITH AGE

The interorbital distance is small; children are
thought to have squint
The orbital process of the zygomatic (malar)
bone may almost reach the lacrimal fossa, and
this condition may persist to ten years.
The roof of the orbit is relatively much larger
than the floor at birth compared with large the
adult proportions. The foetal skull has a large
cranium (orbital roof) and a small face (orbital
floor). The fossa for the lacrimal gland is shallow.

CHANGES IN THE ORBIT WITH AGE

The optic canal has no length at birth, so that it
is actually a foramen : at one year it measures 4
mm. The axis also changes with age ; essentially
while facing forwards and laterally it looks much
more downwards at birth than in the adult.
The periosteum or periorbita is much thicker and
stronger at birth than in the adult.
In old age, the changes are due to absorption of
the bony walls. Thus in the skulls of old people
holes are sometimes found in the roof of the
orbit. In such cases the periorbita is in direct
contact with the dura mater.

CHANGES IN THE ORBIT WITH AGE

The medial wall, although normally very thin, rarely
shows senile holes in its ethmoidal portion. Parts of the
lacrimal bone are, however, commonly absorbed.
The lateral wall not uncommonly shows holes or such
marked thinning that it becomes very fragile in these
places
As regards the floor, senile changes very rarely produce
holes apart from those in the roof or floor of the
infraorbital canal.
In old people, too, the orbital fissures, especially the
inferior, become wider owing to absorption of their
margins.

SEX DIFFERENCES:
MALE AND FEMALE SKULL

SEX DIFFERENCES:
MALE AND FEMALE SKULL
MALE
Large
Rugged
More square
More square
Bony
Larger, broader,
tends to be Ushaped
Thicker and
larger
Present

TRAIT
General size
Architecture
Shape of eye
Mandibe shape
from underside
Glabella
Palate

FEMALE
Small
Smooth
More rounded
More V-shaped

Upper brow ridge

Thin and smaller

Occipital

absent

Flat
Small, tends to
be a parabola

SEX DIFFERENCES:
MALE AND FEMALE SKULL
MALE
Low and sloping

TRAIT
Frontal bone

Rough and
bumpy
Rough and
bumpy
Larger
Square
Straight

Surface of skull

FEMALE
Higher and more
rounded
Smooth

Nuchal crest

Smooth

Mastoid process
Chin
Ramus of
mandible

Small
rounded
slanting

Sex Differences:
Male and Female Skull
Up to puberty there is little difference between the orbits
and, in fact, the skulls of male and female.
After puberty the male skull takes on its secondary sexual
characters, seen especially in the formation of the lower
jaw and in the forehead region.
The female remains more infantile in form. The orbits tend
to be rounder and the upper margin sharper than in the
male. The glabella and supercilliary ridges are less marked
or almost absent. The forehead is more vertical and the
frontal eminences more marked. The contours of the
region are rounder and the bones smoother. The
zygomatic process of the frontal bone is more slender and
pointed.
The female orbit is more elongated and
relatively larger than the male.

Sex Differences:
Male and Female Skull
Up to puberty there is little difference between the orbits
and, in fact, the skulls of male and female.
After puberty the male skull takes on its secondary sexual
characters, seen especially in the formation of the lower
jaw and in the forehead region.
The female remains more infantile in form. The orbits tend
to be rounder and the upper margin sharper than in the
male. The glabella and supercilliary ridges are less marked
or almost absent. The forehead is more vertical and the
frontal eminences more marked. The contours of the
region are rounder and the bones smoother. The
zygomatic process of the frontal bone is more slender and
pointed.
The female orbit is more elongated and
relatively larger than the male.