Inferior orbital fissure explained

The inferior orbital fissure is a gap between the greater wing of sphenoid bone, and the maxilla. It connects the orbit (anteriorly) with the infratemporal fossa and pterygopalatine fossa (posteriorly).^[1]

Anatomy

The medial end of the inferior orbital fissure diverges laterally from the medial end of the superior orbital fissure. It is situated between the lateral wall of the orbit and the floor of the orbit.

Contents

The fissure gives passage to multiple structures, including:

• Infraorbital nerve, artery and vein
• Inferior ophthalmic vein
• Zygomatic nerve
• Orbital branches of the pharyngeal nerve
• Maxillary nerve

See also

• Foramina of skull
• Superior orbital fissure

External links

• (#3)
• Web site: Anatomy diagram: 34256.000-1 . Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator . Elsevier . https://web.archive.org/web/20121227145535/http://www.tk.de/rochelexikon/pics/s34256.000-1.html . 2012-12-27 . dead .
• Web site: Anatomy diagram: 34257.000-1 . Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator . Elsevier . https://web.archive.org/web/20120722052131/http://www.tk.de/rochelexikon/pics/s34257.000-1.html . 2012-07-22 . dead .

Notes and References

1. Book: Sinnatamby, Chummy S. . Last's Anatomy . 2011 . 978-0-7295-3752-0 . 12th .