Human Anatomy - Kotsan I. Ya. 2009

Sense Organs
Organ of Vision (Eye)
Orbital Fasciae

The Eyeball within the Orbit is surrounded by A number of Connective Tissue structures known as the orbital fasciae (fasciae orbitales). These include the orbital periosteum, orbital septum, fascial Sheath of the eyeball, and adipose body of the orbit.

The orbital periosteum (periorbita) is the periosteum lining the bones that form the walls of the orbit. Posteriorly, the orbital periosteum is continuous with the dura mater of the middle cranial fossa through the optic canal and superior orbital fissure. Anteriorly, it extends from the infraorbital margin to the upper edge of the superior tarsal Cartilage as a thin connective tissue sheet—the orbital septum (septum orbitale)—which forms the anterior wall of the orbital cavity.

The sheath of the eyeball (Vagina bulbi) is a thin connective tissue layer enclosing the eyeball on all sides. Anteriorly, it terminates beneath the conjunctiva, while posteriorly, in the region of the Optic nerve, it fuses with the sclera. A slit-like cleft, the episcleral space (spatium episclerale), exists between the sheath of the eyeball and the sclera. This space contains fine connective tissue trabeculae that connect the sclera to the sheath of the eyeball.

The entire space of the orbit situated between the eyeball with its sheath, the extraocular Muscles, and the optic nerve is filled with adipose tissue, which forms the adipose body of the orbit (corpus adiposum orbitae). It is traversed by Blood Vessels and nerves passing to and from the eyeball. The greater part of the adipose body is located posterior to the eyeball.