Anatomy of eyelids muscles

Abstract

Objective of the research was to study up-to-date literary data concerning anatomical peculiarities of palpebral muscles and their supporting and retaining apparatus. Eye diseases have become common nowadays. Very fast development of computer technology and deterioration of ecological conditions are one of the most important factors affecting visual organ impairment. Age physiological changes of the eye and adjacent tissues aggravate the quality of human life as well. Meanwhile, the majority of changes can be corrected. Modern ophthalmology possesses a plenty of surgical techniques, and development of skills in cosmetology and new pharmacological agents ensure a desirable delay of aging and deterioration of the visual organ functions. All the above factors are unlikely to become achievements in medicine without comprehensive awareness of the visual organ anatomy and its auxiliary apparatus. A lot of diseases are associated with eyelids, and ectropion and ptosis of the lower or upper eyelid are the commonest of them. Hypertrophy of the upper part of the orbicular muscle causes ectropion. It is a condition in which the upper eyelid is turned outwards. Isolation of the upper tarsal muscle from the tarsal plate leads to the development of aponeurotic ptosis. Strain of the lower retaining ligament, palpebral fissure septum and capsular-palpebral ligament result in ectropion of the lower eyelid. The presented literary review contains up-to-date information concerning the structure of the muscles of the eyelids and adjacent and auxiliary structures, their functions and possible functional disorders are described. Conclusions. Еhe review of scientific literature dealing with anatomical studies of palpebral muscles and their main adjacent structures is indicative of great interest of scientists in this issue. Though our study has found certain disembodied data and unsystematized fragments in the literature available. In our opinion, compiling an appropriate handbook dealing with the data base available concerning anatomy of the eyelids will considerably improve the quality of numerous surgical operations in cosmetology and ophthalmology.