title: Medial canthal support structures: the medial retinaculum: a review.
abstract: The medial canthus is supported by several structures with a complicated 3-dimensional arrangement in a narrow space. Although the medial canthal tendon occupies a major portion of the area, the medial canthal support structures include the following entities: Horner's muscle, the medial rectus capsulopalpebral fascia including the medial check ligament, the medial horn of the levator aponeurosis, the medial horn supporting ligament, the medial horn of the lower eyelid retractors, the preseptal part of the orbicularis oculi muscle, and 3 variations of the Lockwood's ligament. We named the composite of these structures the "medial retinaculum," which is similar to the "lateral retinaculum" of the lateral canthus. Profound comprehension and consideration of the medial retinaculum warrants safe and effective surgery in the medial canthal region.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Ophthalmology, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan; †Department of Ophthalmology, Presbyterian Medical Center, Jeonju, Korea; Departments of ‡Anatomy, and §Pathology, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hyera
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asamoto
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Hirohiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kakizaki
mesh_terms: D019882:Blepharoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D008022:Ligaments / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D013710:Tendons / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery