2020–2021 BCSC Basic and Clinical Science Course™
6 Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
Part I: Strabismus
Chapter 3: Anatomy of the Extraocular Muscles
Orbital and Fascial Relationships
Muscle Capsule
Each rectus muscle has a surrounding fascial capsule that extends with the muscle from its origin to its insertion. These capsules are thin posteriorly, but near the equator they thicken as they pass through the sleeve of the Tenon capsule, continuing anteriorly with the muscles to their insertions. Anterior to the equator, between the undersurface of the muscle and the sclera, there is almost no fascia, only connective tissue footplates that connect the muscle to the globe. The smooth, avascular surface of the muscle capsule allows the muscles to slide easily over the globe.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 10 - Glaucoma. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.