title: Anatomy of anterior ethmoidal foramen, medial canthal tendon, and lacrimal fossa for transcutaneous anterior ethmoidal nerve block in Japanese individuals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the anatomical relationships of the anterior ethmoidal foramen (AEF), medial canthal tendon (MCT), and lacrimal fossa (LF) in Japanese individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight orbits from 19 Japanese cadavers (7 men and 12 women; average age at death, 89.3 years) were used in this experimental anatomical study. The AEF, MCT, and superior border of the LF were exposed. The following distances were then measured: 1) from the point at the medial orbital rim directly anterior to the AEF to the superior border of the MCT (AEF-MCT), and 2) from the superior border of the LF to the superior border of the MCT (LF-MCT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  (AEF-MCT) and (LF-MCT) distances were 9.40±1.92 (mean±standard deviation) and 4.21±1.18 mm, respectively. No values of (LF-MCT) exceeded the mean (AEF-MCT) (9.40 mm).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The transcutaneous anterior ethmoidal nerve block can be reliably performed without injury to the lacrimal sac by inserting a needle approximately 9 mm superior to the superior border of the MCT.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Ophthalmology, †Anesthesiology, and ‡Anatomy, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan; and §Department of Plastic Surgery, Kobe University School of Medicine, Hyogo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asamoto
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ichinose
authors.forename: Hirohiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kakizaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D005004:Ethmoid Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000294:innervation*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D013710:Tendons / Q000033:anatomy & histology*