Synonyms
Latin: Musculus levator palpebrae superiores
Definition
The upper eyelid lifter is a striated muscle which is counted among the mimic muscles and the outer eye muscles. The muscle originates inside the orbita, splits the lacrimal gland (Glandula lacrimalis) in two parts and finally moves to the upper eyelid, which is opened when contracted. A defect of the upper lid lifter is called ptosis and leads to a drooping of the lid.
History
Embouchure: upper eyelid Origin: small sphenoid bone wing (ala minor) Innervation: N. oculomotorius
Function
As its name suggests, the upper eyelid lifter lifts the upper eyelid when it contracts. In addition, it is coupled with the upper straight eye muscle (Musculus rectus superior), so that the eyelid opens further when looking up and closes when looking down.
Common diseases
In case of a muscle weakness of the upper eyelid lifter, one speaks of a “ptosis“, a drooping of the eyelid. This muscle weakness can be congenital and is then often based on a malformation of the muscle. The Marcus Gunn syndrome is also a congenital disorder of this muscle and leads to a drooping of the eyelid.
However, ptosis can also be caused by injuries and paralysis of the innervating nerve (nervus oculomotorius) or neurological diseases such as myasthenia gravis. Muscle hyperfunction can lead to excessive lifting of the eyelid.
