Two Types of the Sinus of Maier: An Anatomic Study.

Purpose: To show the morphological characteristics of two different types of the sinus of Maier, one with a lacrimal sac diverticulum supplied by separate canalicular openings, and the other with a terminal dilatation of the common lacrimal canaliculus.

Methods: Twelve coronal specimens (6 right and 6 left) from 6 Japanese cadavers (age range, 70-90 years at death) and 15 axial specimens of 11 Japanese cadavers (8 right, 7 left; age range, 45-89 years at death), fixed in 10% buffered formalin, were used. All specimens were stained with Masson's trichrome.

Medial canthal support structures: the medial retinaculum: a review.

The medial canthus is supported by several structures with a complicated 3-dimensional arrangement in a narrow space. Although the medial canthal tendon occupies a major portion of the area, the medial canthal support structures include the following entities: Horner's muscle, the medial rectus capsulopalpebral fascia including the medial check ligament, the medial horn of the levator aponeurosis, the medial horn supporting ligament, the medial horn of the lower eyelid retractors, the preseptal part of the orbicularis oculi muscle, and 3 variations of the Lockwood's ligament. We named the composite of these structures the "medial retinaculum," which is similar to the "lateral retinaculum" of the lateral canthus.

Histological study on the left common iliac vein spur.

The spur occasionally seen in a left common iliac vein was investigated by anatomical and histological examination of cadavers so the occurrence mechanism could be discussed. Spurs were found in six cases of the 28 cadavers (21.4%) and they were classified into few different kinds of composition of endosporia, tunica media and adventitia.

Elastic nature of the lacrimal canalicular wall.

Purpose: To examine the elastic nature of the lacrimal canalicular wall.

Methods: Fifteen postmortem specimens of 11 Japanese individuals (8 right, 7 left; age range, 45-89 years at death) fixed in 10% buffered formalin were axially sliced parallel to the lower eyelid margin to include all 3 portions of the lacrimal canaliculi (intrasac, extrasac-extramuscular, and intramuscular portions). All specimens were stained with Elastica van Gieson.

Consecutive microscopic anatomical characteristics of the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct: cases with or without inflammation.

Purpose: We examined the consecutive microscopic anatomy of the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct with or without conspicuous inflammation.

Methods: We used 18 postmortem lacrimal sacs and nasolacrimal ducts of 12 Japanese subjects (5 males, 7 females, aged 75-98 years at death). The removed mucosal wall was transversely sectioned.

Anatomy of anterior ethmoidal foramen, medial canthal tendon, and lacrimal fossa for transcutaneous anterior ethmoidal nerve block in Japanese individuals.

Purpose: To examine the anatomical relationships of the anterior ethmoidal foramen (AEF), medial canthal tendon (MCT), and lacrimal fossa (LF) in Japanese individuals.

Methods: Thirty-eight orbits from 19 Japanese cadavers (7 men and 12 women; average age at death, 89.3 years) were used in this experimental anatomical study.

Anatomy of deep lateral and medial orbital walls: implications in orbital decompression surgery.

Background: Isolated deep lateral and combined medial orbital wall decompressions (balanced decompression) are well accepted for treatment of disfiguring proptosis and compressive optic neuropathy in patients with Graves' orbitopathy. However, cerebrospinal fluid leakage and/or optic nerve injury occasionally occur during these operations.

Purpose: To describe the anatomy of the deep lateral and medial orbital walls and its surgical implications in orbital decompression.

Intra-sac portion of the lacrimal canaliculus.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the length and diameter of the intra-sac portion of the lacrimal canaliculus and to propose a modified functional valve model at the common internal ostium.

Methods: We examined 14 eyelid and orbital specimens from 10 cadavers (seven right, seven left; aged 45-85 years at death), fixed in 10% buffered formalin. Sliced specimens were dehydrated and embedded in paraffin, cut into 7 μm thickness sections, and stained with Masson's trichrome.

Influence of developing ligaments on the muscles in contact with them: a study of the annular ligament of the radius and the sacrospinous ligament in mid-term human fetuses.

The supinator muscle originates from the annular ligament of the radius, and the muscle fibers and ligament take a similar winding course. Likewise, the coccygeus muscle and the sacrospinous ligament are attached together, and show a similar fiber orientation. During dissection of adult cadavers for our educational curriculum, we had the impression that these ligaments grow in combination with degeneration of parts of the muscles.

The narrowest part of the bony nasolacrimal canal: an anatomical study.

Purpose: To determine the narrowest diameter of the bony nasolacrimal canal.

Methods: Fifty-eight bony nasolacrimal canals from 29 Japanese cadavers (12 men and 17 women; average age at death, 83.4 years; range, 70-99 years) had been fixed in 10% buffered formalin before use.

Anatomy of secretory glands in the eyelid and conjunctiva: a photographic review.

The eyelid and conjunctiva are main targets in ophthalmic plastic surgery. Although dry eyes are known to occasionally occur after ophthalmic plastic surgery, little attention has been paid to the secretory glands in the eyelid and conjunctiva. The secretary glands in the eyelid and conjunctiva contain the main lacrimal gland, accessory lacrimal glands of Wolfring and Krause, goblet cells, ciliary glands of Moll and Zeis, and the meibomian gland of the tarsal plate.

Horizontal orientation of the bony lacrimal passage: an anatomical study.

Purpose: To examine the horizontal orientation of the bony lacrimal passage.

Methods: The orbits and bony nasolacrimal canals (BNLCs) from 28 Japanese cadavers (11 men and 17 women; average age at death, 83.6 years; range, 70-99 years) were fixed and exenterated before use.

Analysis of the posterior ramus of the lumbar spinal nerve: the structure of the posterior ramus of the spinal nerve.

Background: Knowledge of neural anatomy is fundamental for safe, efficacious use of regional anesthesia. Spinal column procedures, such as a facet joint block, require an accurate understanding of neural pathways relative to anatomic structure. Since Bogduk's report it has been known that human lumbar posterior ramus of the spinal nerve (PRSN) comprises three, equally sized primary branches.

The causative factors or characteristics of the Asian double eyelid: an anatomic study.

Purpose: To clarify the causative factor of Asian double eyelid.

Design: Experimental anatomic study.

Participants: Twenty-six upper eyelids (13 right and 13 left) from 17 Japanese cadavers (9 males and 8 females, mean age at death: 73.

Lacrimal sac septum.

A right orbit was exenterated from a male cadaver that was 85 years of age at death. It was microscopically shown for the first time that the lacrimal sac septum divided the lumen into two spaces. It consisted of fibrous tissue with a cavernous structure and was lined with stratified columnar epithelium similar to the lacrimal sac wall.

Horner's muscle contribution to lacrimal sac drainage.

Purpose: This study was designed to examine the anatomical relationship between Horner's muscle and the lacrimal sac at 3 representative levels of the lacrimal sac and to verify the contribution of Horner's muscle to lacrimal sac drainage.

Methods: Seven ocular specimens from 7 elderly Japanese cadavers, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, were analyzed. Axial sections were made parallel to the eyelid margin at 1 mm above the upper eyelid margin, 1 mm below the lower eyelid margin, and 3 mm below the lower eyelid margin.

Inferior oblique muscle origin: horizontal location in relation to ala nasi and its gender difference.

We studied the horizontal location of the inferior oblique muscle (IOM) origin in relation to the ipsilateral ala nasi and compared the results between genders in 76 orbits of 38 Japanese cadavers. Consequently, the IOM origin was located 1.2 mm laterally to the vertical line through the lateral margin of the ipsilateral ala nasi.

Anatomical relationship of Horner's muscle origin and posterior lacrimal crest.

Purpose: This study was designed to examine the distance from the posterior lacrimal crest to the posterior margin of the Horner's muscle origin (the PLC-HMO distance), considering their complex anatomical relationship.

Methods: Eight macroscopic specimens from 8 Japanese cadavers and 7 microscopic specimens from 7 Japanese cadavers, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, were analyzed. Macroscopically, the PLC-HMO distance was measured at 2 mm superior to the most posterior point of the muscle origin (Group A), directly at the most posterior point (Group B) and 2 mm inferior to the most posterior point (Group C).

Anatomy of Tenons capsule.

Background:   The microscopic and macroscopic anatomy of the anterior and posterior Tenons capsule is described.

Methods:   An observational anatomic study of twelve orbits of 6 cadavers (mean age 79.5 years) were examined microscopically and 8 orbits of 4 cadavers (mean age 76.

Punctal and canalicular anatomy: implications for canalicular occlusion in severe dry eye.

Purpose: To characterize the microscopic anatomy of the lacrimal punctum and canaliculi in relation to the tarsal plate, muscle of Riolan, and Horner muscle; and to report a novel technique to excise the horizontal canaliculus in severe dry eye patients.

Design: Observational anatomic study and a retrospective case series.

Methods: The microscopic anatomy was studied in 86 eyelids of 25 cadavers (age range: 45-96 years, mean: 79.

An anatomical study of the positional relationship between the ethmoidal foramina and the frontoethmoidal suture.

Purpose: To examine the positional relationship between the ethmoidal foramina and the frontoethmoidal suture.

Methods: Eighty-four orbits of 42 Japanese cadavers (24 male and 18 female cadavers; average age at death, 81.0 years; range, 61-101 years), fixed in 10% buffered formalin, were used for investigation.

Anatomy of the vertical lacrimal canaliculus and lacrimal punctum: a macroscopic study.

Purpose: To characterize the macroscopic anatomy of the vertical lacrimal canaliculus and the lacrimal punctum in relation to the tarsal plate.

Methods: Twenty-eight eyelids of 7 cadavers (mean age at death, 79.1 years; range, 65-93 years) were used for the investigation.