Topics

Topic

design image
Whitnall's ligament

Whitnall’s ligament, also known as the superior transverse ligament of the eyelid, is a significant anatomical structure within the upper orbit. It acts as a suspensory band, providing critical support to the upper eyelid and playing a crucial role in eyelid elevation mechanics. Its recognition is essential in both clinical practice and radiological evaluation due to its proximity to the levator palpebrae superioris muscle and its involvement in various surgical procedures around the orbit.

Synonyms

  • Superior transverse ligament of the eyelid

  • Ligamentum transversum superius palpebrae

  • Whitnall’s superior transverse ligament

Function

  • Acts as a fulcrum for the levator palpebrae superioris muscle, redirecting the muscle’s force from anteroposterior to vertical, thus enabling efficient elevation of the upper eyelid.

  • Provides structural support to the upper eyelid and orbital contents.

  • Serves as a surgical landmark in oculoplastic and orbital surgeries.

MRI Appearance

  • T1-weighted images:

    • Appears as a thin, low-to-intermediate signal intensity linear structure superior to the globe, running transversely above the levator palpebrae superioris.

  • T2-weighted images:

    • Also demonstrates low signal intensity, as the ligament is a dense fibrous band with little water content.

  • STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

    • Remains hypointense (dark) against the brighter signal of surrounding fat and soft tissues, aiding differentiation from other orbital structures.

CT Appearance

  • Appears as a thin, slightly hyperdense linear structure compared to adjacent orbital fat.

  • Best visualized in coronal and sagittal reconstructions.

  • May be challenging to identify in routine scans unless high-resolution and soft tissue algorithms are used, but often seen as a distinct linear band superior to the globe, corresponding to the course of the levator palpebrae superioris.

MRI images

Whitnall's ligament mri image