Canthus

Canthus
Front of left eye with eyelids separated to show medial canthus.
Dorlands /Elsevier	c_05/12210029
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

Canthus (pl. canthi, palpebral commissures) is either corner of the eye where the upper and lower eyelids meet.^[1] More specifically, the inner and outer canthi are, respectively, the medial and lateral ends/angles of the palpebral fissure.

The bicanthal plane is the transversal plane linking both canthi and defines the upper boundary of the midface.

Commissures

• The lateral palpebral commissure (commissura palpebrarum lateralis; external canthus) is more acute than the medial, and the eyelids here lie in close contact with the bulb of the eye.
• The medial palpebral commissure (commissura palpebrarum medialis; internal canthus) is prolonged for a short distance toward the nose, and the two eyelids are separated by a triangular space, the lacus lacrimalis.

Surgery

Canthoplasty refers to a plastic surgery of the medial and/or lateral canthus.

A canthotomy involves cutting the canthus, often performed to release excessive orbital pressure (i.e., from orbital hemorrhage or infection).

Pathology

"Dystopia canthorum" is a lateral displacement of the inner canthi of the eyes, giving an appearance of a widened nasal bridge.^[2] Dystopia canthorum is associated with Waardenburg syndrome.^[3]

See also

• Epicanthic fold
• Lateral palpebral raphe

References

1. "canthus" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
2. Genetic Hearing Loss from UTMB, Dept. of Otolaryngology. DATE: March 17, 2004. RESIDENT PHYSICIAN: Jing Shen. FACULTY PHYSICIAN: Ronald W. Deskin, MD. SERIES EDITORS: Francis B. Quinn, Jr., MD and Matthew W. Ryan, MD.
3. Tagra S, Talwar AK, Walia RL, Sidhu P (2006). "Waardenburg syndrome". Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 72 (4): 326. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.26718. PMID 16880590.

External links

• Diagram at sheinman.com
• Diagram at solobambini.com (measure of Pupillary distance)