title: Tarsal elastic fiber distribution: an anatomic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the distribution of tarsal elastic fibers, with special emphasis on the meibomian duct area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine postmortem orbits (5 right, 4 left) of 7 Asian cadavers (mean age at death: 82 years, age range: 73-94 years), fixed in 10% buffered formalin, were used. Full-thickness sagittal sections of the upper eyelid specimens were dehydrated and embedded in paraffin and cut in 7-μm-thick sagittal sections. Sliced sections were stained with elastica van Gieson.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elastic fibers were demonstrated in all tarsal plates. They were mostly distributed around the meibomian ducts and much less around the acini or in the tarsal stroma. These elastic fibers were also seen in the area of the muscle of Riolan. The outer part of the meibomian acini was less surrounded by elastic fibers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tarsal elastic fibers are distributed mainly around the meibomian ducts, and much less around the acini or in the tarsal stroma. The fibers were also shown to extend to the area of the muscle of Riolan. These anatomical findings may help clarify the mechanisms involved in meibomian secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan. cosme@d1.dion.ne.jp
authors.forename: Hirohiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kakizaki
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Selva
authors.forename: Igal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leibovitch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008537:Meibomian Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009915:Orbit; D016707:Tissue Fixation