Suspensory ligament of eyeball
Ligamentum suspensorium bulbi
- Eponym: Lockwood’s ligament
Definition
The suspensory ligament of eyeball (a.k.a. Lockwood's ligament) is a thickened condensation of the tenon's capsule or the fascial sheath of eyeball, situated inferior to the globe. It also receives fascial expansions from the sheaths of the inferior rectus and inferior oblique muscles, thereby enclosing these muscles.
The suspensory ligament extends across the floor of the orbit from the medial to the lateral side, where it blends with the medial and lateral check ligaments; fascial extensions of the medial and lateral rectus muscles. Together, these fascial sheaths form a hammocklike support beneath the eyeball.
Functionally, the suspensory ligament helps support and stabilize the eyeball within the orbit and resists inferior displacement during ocular movements. Clinically, weakening or disruption of this fascial support may contribute to downward displacement of the eyeball in orbital trauma or age-related orbital changes.
References
Fink W.H. Ligament of lockwood in relation to surgery of the inferior oblique and inferior rectus muscles. Arch Ophthalmol. 1948;39(3):371-382. doi:10.1001/archopht.1948.00900020378011
Standring, S. (Ed.). (2015). Eye (Chapter 42). In Gray's anatomy: The anatomical basis of clinical practice (41st ed., pp. ). Churchill Livingstone.
