Roof of orbit

Roof of orbit refers to its superior wall. It is mainly formed by the orbital plate of the frontal bone, with a smaller contribution from the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone towards the rear. The roof separates the orbital cavity from the anterior cranial fossa of the cranial cavity located above.

Some important features of the roof of orbit include a bony depression called the lacrimal fossa on its front and lateral side. This lacrimal fossa houses the part of the lacrimal gland that is within the orbit. On the front and medial side, the roof provides a point of attachment for a fibrous pulley known as the trochlea. The tendon of the superior oblique muscle passes through this trochlea, allowing it to change its direction as it takes a bend medially and inserts into the eyeball. Finally, an opening called the optic canal can be observed at the junction of the medial wall and the roof of orbit, located all the way back near the apex of the orbit.