Orbital fat

Corpus adiposum orbitae

Sensory (eye & ear)Fat & fasciaHeadLeft and right

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What it is

Soft, lobulated fat divided by fine septa that fills the orbit around the globe, muscles, nerves and vessels, both inside and outside the cone of the recti.

Function

Cushions the eye, lets it rotate smoothly and supports it in the orbit.

Size

Orbit volume ~30 ml, of which the globe is ~7 ml; fat makes up much of the rest.

Clinical note

Swelling of orbital fat and muscles in thyroid eye disease pushes the eyes forward (proptosis); fat prolapsing through a weak septum forms "eye bags".