Muscular bridge between the inferior oblique and inferior rectus muscles.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we aimed to investigate the muscular bridge between the inferior oblique (IO) and inferior rectus (IR) muscles of the eye.


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
The orbits of sixty intact cadavers with no history of eye muscle or orbital disorders during life were carefully dissected to expose the muscular bridge between the IO and IR muscles. Numbers of the bridges, their length and width were recorded.


RESULTS
We observed muscular bridge between IO and IR muscles in 6.6% of 60 orbits. They originated from the lateral side of the IR muscle, and joined to posteromedial side of the IO muscle. Mean length and width were 14.2 +/- 6.3 and 1.3 +/- 0.2 mm, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Muscular bridges were found in 6.6% of orbits dissected. We conclude that muscular bridges are important due to potential cause of failed IO or IR muscles surgery. In this respect, before surgery of the extraocular muscles, the muscular bridges should be kept in mind and demonstrated by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in transverse, sagittal, and coronal planes.
Yalçin
Bülent
B
Department of Anatomy, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. byalcin@gata.edu.tr
Kocabiyik
Necdet
N
Ozan
Hasan
H
Kutoglu
Tunç
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D009915:Orbit / Q000033:anatomy & histology