The eyelidsare thin, mobile folds that cover the eyeball anteriorly. They offer protection from excessive light or injury, and maintain lubrication by distributing tears over the surface of the eyeball.
The eyelids are split into upper and lower portions, which meet at the medial and lateral canthi of the eye. The opening between the two eyelids is called the palpebral aperture or opening.
In this article, we shall look at the anatomy of the eyelids – their layers, vasculature and innervation.
By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2025)
Fig 1
The upper and lower eyelid.
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Layers of the Eyelid
The eyelid consists of five main layers (superficial to deep):
- Skin and subcutaneous tissue
- Orbicularis oculi
- Tarsal plates
- Levator apparatus
- Conjunctiva
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue
The skin and subcutaneous tissue form the most superficial layer of the eyelid.
The layer of skinis among the thinnest in the human body. In the subcutaneous layer, there is loose connective tissue but no subcutaneous fat – and subsequently, the eyelids are readily distended by oedema or blood.
The eyelashes are attached here with their accompanying modified sweat glands – theciliary glands of Moll. There are also sebaceous glands located in this layer, known as the glands of Zeis.
Orbicularis Oculi
The orbicularis oculi muscle has three distinct parts – palpebral, lacrimal and orbital.
- Attachments –Originates from the medial orbital margin, the medial palpebral ligament, and the lacrimal bone. It then inserts into the skin around the margin of the orbit, and the superior and inferior tarsal plates.
- Actions:
- Palpebral part – gently closes the eyelids.
- Lacrimal part – involved in the drainage of tears.
- Orbital part – tightly closes the eyelids.
- Innervation–Facial nerve (CN VII, temporal and zygomatic branches)
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Fig 2
Sagittal section of the orbit, demonstrating the layers of the eyelid.
Tarsal Plates
The tarsal plates arelocated deep to the palpebral region of theorbicularis oculi muscle. There are two plates; the superior tarsus (upper eyelid) and inferior tarsus (lower eyelid).
They act to form the scaffolding of the eyelid, and are composed of dense connective tissue. The superior tarsus also acts as the attachment site of the levator palpebrae superioris.
In the tarsal plates lie the Meibomian glands (also known as tarsal glands). These are a specialised type of sebaceous gland that secretes an oily substance onto the eye to slow the evaporation of the eye’s tear film. The oily substance also prevents the eyelids from sticking together when closed.
Clinical Relevance
Styes and Chalazion
A stye (or hordeolum) is an infection of a hair follicle or Meibomian glands around the eyelash. If affecting the hair follicles, they are described asexternal, and if they affect the Meibomian glands they are classified asinternal.
Usually they are self-limiting, although they can sometimes be drained by removing the hair from the affected follicle.
A chalazion is a painless granuloma of the Meibomian glands. It can be distinguished from a stye by the absence of pain in a chalazion, whereas styes are normally painful.
Levator Apparatus
The levator palpebrae superioris and superior tarsal muscles both act to open the eyelid. They are only present in the upper eyelid.
| Levator Palpebrae Superioris | Superior Tarsal Muscle | |
| Attachments |
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| Action |
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| Innervation |
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By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2025)
Fig 3
Attachment of the levator palpebrae superiors to the superior tarsal plate.
Conjunctiva
The palpebral conjunctiva forms the deepest layer of the eyelid.
It is a thin mucous membrane, which is reflected onto the sclera of the eyeball (bulbar conjunctiva).
Vasculature
The eyelid has a rich arterial supply from numerous vessels:
- Ophthalmic artery – lacrimal, medial palpebral, supraorbital, dorsal nasal and supratrochlear arteries.
- Facial artery – angular branch.
- Superficial temporal artery – transverse facial artery branch.
Venous drainage is provided by a rich network around the eyelid. Medially,blood drains via themedial palpebral vein into theangular andophthalmic veins.Laterally, blood drains into thesuperficial temporal vein from thelateral palpebral vein.
Innervation
Sensory innervation to the eyelids is suppliedby branches of the trigeminal nerve:
- Ophthalmic nerve (V1)– upper eyelid.
- Supraorbital, supratrochlear, infratrochlear and lacrimal branches.
- Maxillary nerve (V2)– lower eyelid.
- Infraorbital and zygomaticofacial branches.
As discussed above, innervation to the muscles of the eyelid is via the facial nerve (orbicularis oculi), oculomotor nerve (levator palpebrae superioris) and sympathetic fibres (superior tarsal muscle).
