Inferior eyelid
Palpebra inferior
Definition
The inferior eyelid is less extended and less mobile than the upper eyelid. Unlike the upper eyelid, it has no dedicated muscle for its retraction. Only the inferior tarsal muscle allows partial movement.
As a result, the structure of the inferior eyelid is less complex. The orbicularis oculi muscle is directly adjacent to the inferior tarsus, which is continuous with the orbital septum and serves as an attachment to the inferior tarsal muscle.
The eyelashes of the inferior eyelid are less numerous and developed than those of the upper eyelid, to the point that in some species they are absent, mainly in carnivores and pigs.
References
Barone R, Simoens P. Anatomie comparée des mammifères domestiques, Tome 7, Neurologie II, Vigot, Paris, 2010.
