Tarsus and Palpebral Ligaments

Description

Orbits and adjacent facial skeleton frame the ocular soft tissue supports in this male anatomical model, with the tarsus (tarsal plates) forming dense connective tissue along the superior and inferior eyelids. Medially, the palpebral ligaments (medial palpebral ligament and lateral palpebral ligament) anchor the eyelids to the orbital rim, spanning toward the lacrimal crest on the nasal side and the zygomatic bone laterally. Nasal bones and highlighted nasal cartilages sit anterior and medial to the orbits, while the maxilla and mandible with dentition lie inferior to the orbital margins; the cervical vertebrae align posterior and inferior to the skull base. Attention to the tarsus and palpebral ligament attachments matters because these fibrous structures set eyelid position against the globe and define the tension points surgeons rely on during eyelid repair. Lacerations near the medial canthus can disrupt the medial palpebral ligament and adjacent lacrimal drainage apparatus, producing lid malposition and epiphora if canthal support is not restored. Lateral canthal tightening (lateral tarsal strip canthoplasty) similarly depends on recognizing the lateral palpebral ligament and its relationship to the lateral orbital tubercle. Small structures. Big consequences. Use this asset for head and neck anatomy teaching in gross anatomy, ophthalmology, or oculoplastic modules when you need bony orbital landmarks paired with eyelid connective tissue supports, and for medical publishing figures accompanying discussions of canthal tendon injury, eyelid trauma repair, or blepharoplasty planning. It also fits clinical slide decks that compare orbital rim anatomy with canthal fixation points on physical exam and operative approach. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.