Quick Facts
The medial palpebral ligament are fibrous bands that connect the medial ends of the tarsi to the bones of the orbit, an anterior bundle passing in front of the lacrimal sac and attached to the frontal process of the maxilla, and a posterior bundle passing behind the lacrimal sac and attached to the posterior crest of the lacrimal bone (Dorland, 2011).
Related parts of the anatomy
Structure and/or Key Feature(s)
The medial palpebral (canthic) ligament is formed from dense fibrous tissue that extends from the medial ends of the superior and inferior tarsal plates to the anterior lacrimal crest and the frontal process of the maxilla. It splits as it attaches to the tarsal plates surrounding the lacrimal canaliculi.
Anatomical Relations
The medial palpebral ligament sits anterior to the orbital septum and lacrimal sac.
Function
The medial palpebral ligament, along with the orbital septum, supports the superior and inferior tarsal plates tethering them to the medial margin of the orbit. It also serves as a tendon for the attachment of orbicularis oculi muscle (Robinson and Stranc, 1970).
References
Dorland, W. (2011) Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 32nd edn. Philadelphia, USA: Elsevier Saunders.
Robinson, T. J. and Stranc, M. F. (1970) 'The anatomy of the medial canthal ligament', Br J Plast Surg, 23(1), pp. 1-7.
