J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2007 Jan;48(1):142-149.

The Distribution of the Extraocular Pulley Smooth Muscle in the Rabbit

• Kim JM
• Kim EJ
• Yoo JM

Abstract

PURPOSE: We evaluated the structure, innervation of the extraocular pulley smooth muscle in the rabbit.
METHODS
A rabbit was transcardially perfused with physiological saline followed by 4% formalin. The rabbit orbit was dissected en bloc, paraffin processed, and serially sectioned for Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson's trichrome stain. The distribution of the extraocular pulley smooth muscle was confirmed by immunohistochemistry with human smooth muscle(SM) alpha-actin.
RESULTS
We found that the pulley structure consisted of focal condensations of eleastin and collagenous connective tissue in relationship to the rectus muscle in the equatorial Tenon's fascia. The pulley smooth muscle in relation to medial rectus muscle was immunostained with TH and nNOS.
CONCLUSIONS
The data support the presence of the extraocular pulley smooth muscle in the rabbit orbit having both parasympathetic and sympathetic innervation.

Keyword

Pulley smooth muscle

MeSH Terms

Actins
Collagen
Connective Tissue
Fascia
Formaldehyde
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Muscle, Smooth*
Orbit
Paraffin
Actins
Collagen
Formaldehyde
Paraffin