The orbitalis muscle is a vestigial or rudimentary nonstriated muscle (smooth muscle) that crosses from the infraorbital groove and sphenomaxillary fissure and is intimately united with the periosteum of the orbit. It was described by Heinrich Müller[1] and is often called Müller's muscle. It lies at the back of the orbit and spans the infraorbital fissure.[2] It is a thin layer of smooth muscle that bridges the inferior orbital fissure. It is supplied by sympathetic nerves, and its function is unknown.[3]
| Orbitalis muscle | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Nerve | Sympathetic Nerves |
| Actions | protrusion of eyeball |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | musculus orbitalis |
| TA98 | A15.2.07.009 |
| TA2 | 6820 |
| FMA | 49034 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
Function
editThe muscle forms an important part of the lateral orbital wall in some animals and can act to change the wall's volume in lower mammals,[4] while in humans it is not known to have any significant function, but its contraction may possibly produce a slight forward protrusion of the eyeball.[2] Several sources have suggested a role in the autonomic regulation of the vascular system due to the pattern of innervation of the orbitalis.[5][6]
Pathology
editHorner's syndrome causes paralysis of the structures of the eye and orbit that receive sympathetic innervation. The signs of Horner's syndrome are ptosis, miosis, anhidrosis, and (apparent) enophthalmos. While some attribute the enophthalmos of Horner's Syndrome to paralysis of the orbitalis muscle, this is inaccurate. Enophthalmos in Horner's syndrome is an illusion created by the subtle ptosis of the upper eyelid caused by paralysis of the superior tarsal muscle.[7]
Sinking in of the eye (true enophthalmos) is possibly caused by paralysis of the smooth (orbitalis) muscle in the floor of the orbit.[8]
Eponym
editWhile the orbitalis muscle is also known as Müller's muscle, the use of this term should be discouraged to avoid confusion with the superior tarsal muscle and the circular fibres of the ciliary muscle.
References
edit- ^ Toerien MJ, Gous AE. The orbital muscle of Müller. S Afr Med J. 1978 Jan 28; 53(4):139-41. [1]
- ^ a b Gray's Anatomy - 40th Ed/MINOR MUSCLES OF THE EYELIDS
- ^ Snell-Clinical Anatomy by Regions - Snell - 8th Ed - 2008-Chapter 11 : The Head and Neck
- ^ Dutton, J.J., Atlas of Clinical and Surgical Orbital Anatomy, 2nd Edition, Elsevier, 2011. p.116-117.
- ^ Ruskell, G.L., Orbital Passage of Pterygopalatine Ganglion Efferents to Paranasal Sinuses and Nasal Mucosa in Man, Karger, Cells Tissues Organs 2003;175:223–228. PMID 14707402.
- ^ Rodríguez-Vázquez JF, Mérida-Velasco JR, Arráez-Aybar LA, Jiménez-Collado J., Anatomic relationships of the orbital muscle of Müller in human fetuses, Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 1998;20(5):341-4. PMID 9894314.
- ^ Daroff, Robert (2005-04-26). "Enophthalmos Is Not Present in Horner Syndrome". PLOS Medicine. 2 (4): e120. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0020120. ISSN 1549-1676. PMC 1087222. PMID 15839747.
- ^ Moore-Clinically Oriented Anatomy - Moore - 5th Ed - 2006/ part 8 : neck