Supraorbital fossa
Fossa supraorbitalis
Definition
The supraorbital fossa is the anatomical depression located caudal to the orbit and dorsal to the zygomatic arch.
The supraorbital fossa is particularly pronounced in the horse. In this species, it contains a fat pad in continuity with the orbital fat body: Yang et al. 2021 described the retrobulbar injection of local anaesthetic via the supraorbital fossa in adult horses.
References
Constantinescu GM, Schaller O. Illustrated veterinary anatomical nomenclature, 3rd Edition, Enke Verlag, Stuttgart, 2012.
Yang VY, Eaton JS, Harmelink K, Hetzel SJ, Sanchez A, Lund JR, Smith LJ. Retrobulbar lidocaine injection via the supraorbital fossa is safe in adult horses but produces regionally variable periocular anaesthesia. Equine Vet J. 2021 Aug 16. doi: 10.1111/evj.13496. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34396584.
