The orbicularis oculi is a circular shaped muscle around the opening of the eye. Along other functions, the orbicularis oculi muscle is involved in closing of the eyelid. The orbicularis oculi consists of three parts:

Orbital part
Palpebral part
Lacrimal (deep palpebral) part

The orbital part of the orbicularis oculi lies circulary around the orbital opening. The palpebral part is situated in the upper and lower eyelids. And the lacrimal part of the orbicularis oculi lies the most profoundly.

Orbital part

Origin: medial palpebral ligament.

Insertion: fibers of the orbital part of the orbicularis oculi run around the orbital opening and insert into the origin site.

Action: narrows the space between the eyelids, lifts the cheek.

Innervation: temporal branch and the zygomatic branch of the facial nerve (CN VII).

Blood supply: branches of the facial artery and superficial temporal artery (branches of the external carotid artery), and branches of the ophthalmic artery (branch of the internal carotid artery).

Palpebral part

Origin: medial palpebral ligament.

Insertion: lateral palpebral ligament.

Action: closes the eyelids.

Innervation: temporal branch and the zygomatic branch of the facial nerve (CN VII).

Blood supply: branches of the facial artery, superficial temporal artery, ophthalmic artery.

Lacrimal (deep palpebral) part

Origin: lacrimal bone.

Insertion: lacrimal sac.

Action: enlarges and widens the lacrimal sac, improves tear flow and drainage into the lacrimal sac.

Innervation: zygomatic branch of the facial nerve (CN VII).

Blood supply: branches of the facial artery, superficial temporal artery, ophthalmic artery.

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Orbicularis oculi