Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
06:08
A Standardized Surgical Technique for Tessier Medial Transnasal Canthopexy
Published on: January 23, 2026
Lateral canthal support system in Japanese
Hirohiko Kakizaki1, Masahiro Zako, Takashi Nakano
1Department of Ophthalmology, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi-ken 480-1195, Japan. cosme@d1.dion.ne.jp
Okajimas Folia Anatomica Japonica
|December 13, 2006
Summary
The lateral canthal tendon is not a single tendon but two distinct layers: the orbital septum and a tarsoligamentous band. These combined structures, termed
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Anatomy
- Histology
Background:
- The lateral canthal tendon (LCT) is a clinically significant structure in lower eyelid anatomy.
- Its precise microscopic composition has been a subject of ongoing investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To microscopically elucidate the exact structure of the structure commonly referred to as the lateral canthal tendon (LCT).
Main Methods:
- Microscopic examination of 9 post-mortem lower eyelid specimens from elderly Japanese individuals.
- Tissue preparation involved fixation, excision of orbital aperture-adjacent areas, and specific incisions.
- Hematoxylin and Eosin staining for histological analysis.
Main Results:
- The LCT is microscopically composed of two distinct layers, not a single tendon.
- The superficial layer is the orbital septum (septal band), characterized by thick fibers and adipose tissue.
- The deep layer is a ligament (tarsoligamentous band) originating from the tarsus, with fine fibers and minimal adipose tissue.
Conclusions:
- The structure termed LCT is a composite of the orbital septum and a ligament.
- This complex, newly named 'lateral canthal bands', supports the lateral canthus.
- The findings clarify the anatomical basis for lateral canthal support.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Cranial Bones: Lateral View
The lateral view of the cranium is dominated by temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
01:17Accessory Structures of the Eye
Optical perception, or vision, is an extraordinary sense dependent on converting light signals received via the ocular organs. These organs, known as eyes, are securely positioned within the bony cavities of the skull, called orbits. The orbits serve a dual purpose: a protective shield for the ocular globes and a stable attachment point for the soft ocular tissues. The eye's external protective mechanisms include the eyelids, which are edged with lashes that act as a barrier against foreign...
01:14Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View
The superior view of the cranium shows the frontal and paired parietal bones.
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
01:22Sutures of the Skull
The human skull is composed of several bones that come together to protect the brain and support the structures of the face. The junctions where these bones meet are called sutures.
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
01:27Support Reactions in Three Dimensions
Support reactions in three dimensions help maintain the stability and equilibrium of various structures and systems. These reactions prevent the system from translating and rotating, ensuring the design can withstand external forces and perform its intended function efficiently and safely. Some of the supports providing support reactions in three dimensions are discussed below:
Ball and Socket Joint is one of the supports allowing free rotation about any axis. This freedom of rotation is...
Ball and Socket Joint is one of the supports allowing free rotation about any axis. This freedom of rotation is...
01:16Eccentric Axial Loading in a Plane of Symmetry
Eccentric axial loading occurs when an axial load is applied away from the centroidal axis of a structural member. This scenario is common in engineering, where structural elements may not be directly aligned due to various design or functional requirements.