Orbital fat body
Corpus adiposum orbitae
- Synonym: Retrobulbar fat
- Related terms: Retrobulbar fat body
Definition
Orbital fat body refers to the adipose tissue that occupies much of the space between the fascial sheath of the eyeball (Tenons capsule) and the bony walls of the orbit. The adipose tissue, therefore, lies outside the tenon's capsule and surrounds all the structures within the fascial sheath of eyeball including eyeball itself, extraocular muscles, nerves, vessels, and associated connective tissues.
Functional correlates
Functionally, the orbital fat absorbs mechanical shock, stabilizes the position of the eyeball within the orbit, and allows free movement of the globe and extraocular muscles. It also contributes to the normal contour and fullness of the orbit and eyelids.
References
Standring, S. (Ed.). (2015). Eye (Chapter 42). In Gray's anatomy: The anatomical basis of clinical practice (41st ed., pp. ). Churchill Livingstone.
Dadson, P., Ngum, P., JuarezOrozco, L.E. et al. The Relevance and Potential Role of Orbital Fat in Inflammatory Orbital Diseases: Implications for Diagnosis and Treatment. Ophthalmol Ther 14, 247281 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40123024010797
