Medical expert of the article
New publications
Eyelids
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
The upper eyelid (palpebra superior) and the lower eyelid (palpebra inferior) are the formations that lie in front of the eyeball and cover it from above and below, and when the eyelids are completely closed it. At the edge of the orbit, the skin of the eyelids passes into the skin of adjacent areas of the face. At the border of the upper eyelid and forehead is a transversely oriented skin roller, covered with hair, - an eyebrow (supercilium). The front surface of the eyelid (facies anterior palpebrae) is convex, covered with a thin skin with short hairs, greasy and sweat glands. The posterior surface of the eyelid (facies posterior palpebrae) is concave, facing the eyeball. This surface of the eyelid is covered with a conjunctiva (tunica conjunctiva).
In the thickness of the upper and lower eyelids there is a connective tissue plate, resembling cartilage in density. This is the upper cartilage of the century (tarsus superior) and the lower cartilage of the eyelid (tarsus inferior). Here is the age-old part of the circular muscle of the eye. From the upper and lower cartilage of the eyelids to the anterior and posterior lacrimal crests the medial ligamentum palpebrale mediate common to these cartilages is directed, covering the tear sack in front and behind. To the lateral wall of the orbit from cartilages is the lateral ligament of the eyelid (ligamentum palpebrale laterale), which corresponds to the lateral suture of the eyelids (raphe palpebralis lateralis).
To the upper edge and the front surface of the cartilage of the upper eyelid is attached a thin wide tendon of the muscle, lifting the upper eyelid. The free edge of the eyelid, bounded by its posterior and anterior surfaces, accordingly forms the anterior and posterior edges of the eyelids (limbi palpebrales anterior and posterior) and bears on it 2-3 lines of the cilia, the eyelashes located closer to the anterior margin.
Close to the rear edge of the eyelids open hole altered sebaceous (Meibomian) glands cartilage age (glandulae tarsales), the initial portions of which are within the cartilaginous plate century. In the thickness of the upper eyelid, such glands are larger (30-40) than in the lower gland (20-30). The edges of the upper and lower eyelids border the transverse ocular gap (rima palpebrarum), which from the medial and lateral sides is closed by the fusion of the medial and lateral adhesions of the eyelids (commissure palpebralis medialis et commissura palpebralis lateralis).
[What do need to examine?
How to examine?