Lower eyelid

Palpebra inferior

  • Synonym: Inferior eyelid
  • Related terms: Inferior eyelid

Definition

The upper and lower eyelids are soft tissue structures which cover the base of orbits on the face and protect the eyes, when closed. The space between upper and lower eyelid is called palpebral fissure.

Both upper and lower eyelids comprise of various soft tissue structures or components. From front to back, these include the skin, loose subcutaneous tissue, skeletal muscle, orbital septum, the tarsus and conjunctival membrane:

  • The looseness of connective tissue in the subcutaneous layer allows for fluid accumulation and swelling in case of injuries and infections.

  • The skeletal muscle includes the palpebral part of orbicularis oculi muscle, anchored on either side by medial and lateral palpebral ligaments.

  • Next, the orbital septum is an extension of periosteum which ascends into the lower eyelid. Unlike the upper eyelid, there is no levator palpebrae superioris muscle and hence the orbital septum is directly attached to the inferior tarsal plate above. There are numerous sebaceous tarsal glands situated within the tarsal plates. Their obstruction could lead to inflammatory swelling of the tarsal glands, called chalazion.

  • Lastly, a thin conjunctival membrane underlines the posterior surface of the upper and lower eyelids and reflects onto the sclera of the eyeball at the superior and inferior conjunctival fornices.

Vasculature: Blood supply to upper and lower eyelids comes via the branches of ophthalmic artery, angular branch of facial artery, and superficial temporal artery and its transverse facial arterial branch.

Innervation: Sensory innervation of lower eyelid is via the maxillary division of trigeminal nerve (V2), whereas the motor innervation arises from the facial nerve.

Text by Antoine Micheau, MD - Copyright IMAIOS and reviewed by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2023 IMAIOS.

  • Drake, R.L., Vogl, A.W. and Mitchell, A.W.M. (2009). ‘Chapter 8: Head and Neck’ in Gray’s anatomy for Students. (2nd ed.) Philadelphia PA 19103-2899: Elsevier, pp. 879-881.

  • Cochran, M.L., Lopez, M.J. and Czyz, C.N. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Eyelid. [Updated 2022 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482304/


Comparative anatomy in animals

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