Eye

General

Anatomy & histology-eyelid



Last author update: 1 February 2014
Last staff update: 18 December 2020

Copyright: 2004-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed Search: Anatomy [title] of eyelid [title]

Nat Pernick, M.D.
Page views in 2023: 4,241
Page views in 2024 to date: 1,048
Cite this page: Pernick N. Anatomy & histology-eyelid. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/eyeeyelidanatomy.html. Accessed March 28th, 2024.
Definition / general
  • Has cutaneous and conjunctival portion
  • Palpebral (tarsal) conjunctiva lines interior of eyelid
    • Very thin
    • Continuous with bulbar conjunctiva that covers the sclera
    • Becomes papillary with allergic or bacterial conjunctivitis
  • Contains eccrine and apocrine glands (glands of Moll) and sebaceous glands
  • Sebaceous glands (Meibomian glands within eyelid fibrous tarsus and glands of Zeis associated with eyelashes) create lipid layer of tear film which retards evaporation of tears
  • The orifices of Meibomian glands open just in front of the posterior edge of the lid margin and are separated from the more anteriorly placed eyelashes by a gray line
  • Muscular layer is composed primary of orbicularis oculi muscle
Pathophysiology
  • Specimens received are often from cosmetic blepharoplasty or other reparative surgery with no abnormalities
  • Other lesions are similar to those in skin
  • Creates tear film via accessory lacrimal glands embedded above fibrous tarsus of eyelid
  • Helps to protect and lubricate the globe
  • Tumors may prevent complete closure of eyelid, leading to exposure and ulceration of cornea
Gray line
  • Divides the eyelid into anterior and posterior parts
  • It corresponds with the position of the pretarsal orbicularis muscle
Drawings

Images hosted on other servers:
Missing Image

Upper eyelid

Microscopic (histologic) images

AFIP images
Missing Image

Normal upper eyelid
M: meibomian glands
O: orbicularis muscle
T: tarsal plate
Z: Zeis glands

Missing Image

Normal lower eyelid:
smaller tarsal plate
than upper eyelid

Missing Image

Normal Meibomian gland:
sebaceous lobules connect
to sebaceous duct, where
ductal epithelium forms
valve-like structures



Images hosted on other servers:
Missing Image

Eyelid cross section

Back to top
Image 01 Image 02