Left Common Tendinous Ring (Annulus of Zinn) (Anulus tendineus communis sinister)
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Anatomy
The left common tendinous ring (annulus of Zinn) is a fibrous annular band encircling the optic canal and the medial part of the superior orbital fissure at the apex of the left orbit. It gives origin to all four rectus extraocular muscles (superior, inferior, medial, lateral) and transmits the optic nerve, ophthalmic artery, and both divisions of the oculomotor, abducens, and nasociliary nerves.
Clinical notes
Orbital apex syndrome involves inflammatory, traumatic, or neoplastic pathology compromising the structures inside the common tendinous ring, producing complete external and internal ophthalmoplegia and visual loss.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Left Common Tendinous Ring (Annulus of Zinn)?
The left common tendinous ring (annulus of Zinn) is a fibrous annular band encircling the optic canal and the medial part of the superior orbital fissure at the apex of the left orbit. It gives origin to all four rectus extraocular muscles (superior, inferior, medial, lateral) and transmits the optic nerve, ophthalmic artery, and both divisions of the oculomotor, abducens, and nasociliary nerves.
Why is the Left Common Tendinous Ring (Annulus of Zinn) clinically important?
Orbital apex syndrome involves inflammatory, traumatic, or neoplastic pathology compromising the structures inside the common tendinous ring, producing complete external and internal ophthalmoplegia and visual loss.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details