The palpebral part is a thin portion of the orbicularis oculi that lies within the upper and lower eyelids. It is responsible for the gentle closure of the eyelids - during blinking or when closing the eyes during sleep. It functions involuntarily in the blink reflex to keep the eyeball moist and protected, and voluntarily during soft eye closure.

Origin: superficial surface of the medial palpebral ligament and the adjacent part of the frontal process of the maxilla.

Insertion: lateral palpebral raphe (a fibrous band at the lateral corner of the eye).

Action: pulls the upper eyelid down and raises the lower eyelid, gently closing the eyelids when blinking. The palpebral part also closes the eyelids involuntarily as a reflex mechanism. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in spreading tears across the surface of the eyeball to keep it moist and free of potentially irritating particles. All these actions also facilitate non-verbal communication and expression.

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

Arterial blood supply: angular artery of the facial artery, transverse facial artery of the superficial temporal artery, medial palpebral arteries of the ophthalmic artery, and lateral palpebral arteries of the lacrimal artery.

Venous drainage: tributaries of the superior and inferior ophthalmic veins and the facial vein.

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Palpebral part of orbicularis oculi