Lateral Canthal Anatomy: A Review

Abstract

The anatomy of the lateral canthus is analogous to that of the medial canthus, but with a less defined structure. Although the lateral canthal tendon occupies the major part of the lateral canthal anatomy, the lateral rectus capsulopalpebral fascia and other structures also play a significant role. Appropriate comprehension and consideration of the lateral canthal anatomy enable safe and effective performance in the lateral canthal surgeries. In this review, we present the lateral canthal anatomy along with updated topics. We discuss the lateral canthal tendon, lateral orbital thickening, lateral palpebral raphe, lateral canthal muscle, lateral rectus capsulopalpebral fascia, lateral check ligament, lateral retinaculum, and orbitomalar ligament.

KEYWORDS::

• Anatomy
• Lateral canthus
• Lateral canthal anatomy

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors appreciate the help of Mr. Naoki Igari in staining the microscopic specimens. All cadavers shown here were Japanese, and they were registered with Aichi Medical University. Proper consent and approvals were obtained prior to their use. The methods used for securing the human tissues were humane and complied with the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.