Superior Transverse Ligament of Eyeball (Left)
Ligamentum transversum bulbi superius
Read moreStructure
The superior transverse ligament of the eyeball surrounds the levator palpebrae superioris muscle, close to where it transitions to the aponeurosis. It attaches to the superior tarsal plate and to the orbital bone. It attaches:
—medially, to the connective tissue around the trochlea and the superior oblique tendon;
—laterally, to lateral orbital wall, superior to the orbital tubercle.
Related parts of the anatomy
Function
The function of the superior transverse ligament is uncertain, but it is thought to act as a lever for levator palpebrae superioris muscle by transferring its line of action from an anterior-posterior direction to a superior-inferior direction. It also acts as a suspensory ligament for the upper eyelid (Codere et al, 1995).
References
Codere, F., Tucker, N. A. & Renaldi, B. (1995) The anatomy of Whitnall ligament. Ophthalmology, 102(12), 2016-9.
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