Tarsal plate

Tarsal Plate

The tarsal plate is a dense, fibrous connective tissue found within the eyelid. It is responsible for maintaining the shape and contour of the eyelid, and also houses the meibomian glands, which produce the oily layer of the tear film.

Structure

The tarsal plate is a thin, elongated plate of dense connective tissue, located within the eyelid. It is approximately 25mm in length in the upper eyelid, and 20mm in the lower eyelid. The tarsal plates are lined by the conjunctiva, a clear mucous membrane that covers the inner surface of the eyelids and the white part of the eye.

Function

The primary function of the tarsal plate is to provide structural support to the eyelid, maintaining its shape and contour. It also serves as an attachment point for the levator palpebrae superioris and orbicularis oculi muscles, which control the opening and closing of the eyelid.

The tarsal plate also houses the meibomian glands, which are sebaceous glands that produce the oily layer of the tear film. This oily layer prevents the evaporation of the watery layer beneath it, thus helping to maintain the moisture and health of the eye.

Clinical significance

Abnormalities or damage to the tarsal plate can lead to a variety of eyelid disorders. For example, blepharitis, a common condition characterized by inflammation of the eyelid, often involves dysfunction of the meibomian glands within the tarsal plate. Other conditions, such as ectropion and entropion, involve a turning out or turning in of the eyelid, respectively, often due to changes in the tarsal plate.

See also

• Eyelid
• Meibomian gland
• Blepharitis
• Ectropion
• Entropion