An Anatomical Study of the Inferior Oblique Muscle: The Embalmed Cadaver vs the Fresh Cadaver

摘要

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of divided bellies of the inferior oblique (IO) muscle in embalmed and fresh cadavers, and to elucidate the symmetry of IOs in the left and right eyes.DESIGN: Cohort study.METHODS: IOs were dissected from their origin to the insertion point in 40 intact orbits of 20 embalmed cadavers and in 22 intact orbits of 11 fresh cadavers. The width and location of the IO origin were measured in the skull. In addition, the locations and patterns of IO insertions on the globe were recorded.RESULTS: Divided bellies were evident in 18 of the 40 IOs (45%) in the 20 embalmed cadavers but in none of the 22 IOs in the 11 fresh cadavers. The insertional patterns of the IOs differed between the left and right eyes in 12 of 31 cadavers (39%)