Müller's muscle: a component of the peribulbar smooth muscle network.
OBJECTIVE
To examine Müller's muscle's horizontal extensions in relation to the peribulbar smooth muscle network.


METHODS
Observational anatomic study.


METHODS
Twenty postmortem orbits (10 right, 10 left) of 15 Asians (8 males, 7 females; age range at death, 61-93 years; mean age, 78.4 years) fixed in 10% buffered formalin.


METHODS
After performing a full-thickness 360° incision of the periosteum around the circumference of the orbit, the periosteum was elevated and finally detached near to the orbital apex. Nerves, blood vessels, and the nasolacrimal duct arising from the orbital wall were cut. The lateral orbital wall then was removed at approximately 3 cm posterior to the orbital rim and the retrobulbar content was incised with a sharp scalpel in a coronal plane. The removed orbital content was incised at a plane passing from a point located 15 mm superior to the upper eyelid margin and the globe equator at 3- and 9-o'clock areas. The sliced specimens were dehydrated and embedded in paraffin, cut into 7-μm thickness sections, and then stained with Masson trichrome.


METHODS
The medial and lateral extensions of Müller's muscle in relation to the peribulbar smooth muscle network.


RESULTS
In all specimens, Müller's muscle extended medially and laterally. The medial extension reached the medial rectus muscle pulley, which is rich in smooth muscle fibers. The lateral extension reached the lateral rectus muscle pulley by passing through the lacrimal gland fascia of the palpebral lobe, in which 12 specimens also showed a direct extension to the lateral rectus muscle pulley in the posterior part.


CONCLUSIONS
Müller's muscle has a medial and a lateral extension to the peribulbar smooth muscle network. These new findings indicated that Müller's muscle is not an independent structure in the upper eyelid, but rather a component of the peribulbar smooth muscle network.


BACKGROUND
The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Kakizaki
Hirohiko
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan. cosme@d1.dion.ne.jp
Takahashi
Yasuhiro
Y
Nakano
Takashi
T
Asamoto
Ken
K
Ikeda
Hiroshi
H
Selva
Dinesh
D
Leibovitch
Igal
I
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005143:Eyelids / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000294:innervation; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009915:Orbit / Q000033:anatomy & histology