44 SURGICAL APPLIED ANATOMY. icha r . iv 



Of these orbital attachments the suspensory 

 ligament of Lockwood is the most important. It 

 stretches across the fore part of the orbit after the 

 fashion of a hammock, and supports the eye-ball. Its 

 two extremities are attached respectively to the 

 malar and lachrymal bones. Below the eye-ball it 

 widens out, and blends with the capsule of Tenon. 

 Strong bands pass from the sheaths of the external and 

 internal recti muscles to the malar and lachrymal 

 bones respectively. They limit excessive rotation of 

 the globe in an outward or inward direction. The 

 action of the superior rectus is checked by its connec- 

 tion with the levator palpebrte, and that of the inferior 

 rectus by the connection of its tendon with the 

 suspensory ligament. 



Mr. Lockwood points out that in removing the 

 upper jaw the surgeon should take care to preserve 

 the attachments of the suspensory ligament. If 

 these be destroyed the eye-ball sinks downwards. 



The orbit behind Tenon's fascia is occupied by a 

 large quantity of loose fat, in addition to the ocular 

 muscles, the vessels, and nerves. It is by the absorp- 

 tion of this fat that the sunken eye is produced in 

 cases of emaciation and prolonged illness. This 

 tissue affords a ready means for the spread of oa-bital 

 abscess. Such an abscess may follow injuries, 

 certain ocular inflammations, periostitis, etc., or may 

 spread from adjacent parts. The pus may occupy the 

 entire cavity, displacing the eye-ball forwards, limit- 

 ing its movements, and causing, by interference with 

 the circulation, great redness of the conjunctiva and 

 swelling of the lids. 



Foreign bodies, some of them of remarkable size 

 and shape, have lodged for long periods of time in 

 the orbital fat without causing much trouble. Thus 

 Lawson reports a case where a piece of an iron 

 hat-peg, three inches long, was embedded in the 



