Canthus

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Corner of the eye where the upper and lower eyelids meet

title: "Canthus" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["human-eye-anatomy"] description: "Corner of the eye where the upper and lower eyelids meet" topic_path: "science/biology" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canthus" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Corner of the eye where the upper and lower eyelids meet ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox anatomy"]

FieldValue
NameCanthus
ImageGray892.png
CaptionFront of left eye with eyelids separated to show medial canthus.
::

| Name = Canthus | Latin = | Image = Gray892.png | Caption = Front of left eye with eyelids separated to show medial canthus. | Image2 = | Caption2 = | Precursor = | System = | Artery = | Vein = | Nerve = | Lymph = The canthus (: canthi, palpebral commissures) is either corner of the eye where the upper and lower eyelids meet. More specifically, the inner and outer canthi are, respectively, the medial and lateral ends/angles of the palpebral fissure.

The bicanthal plane is the transversal plane linking both canthi and defines the upper boundary of the midface.

Etymology

The word ** is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek (**), meaning 'corner of the eye'.

Population distribution

The eyes of East Asian and some Southeast Asian people tend to have the inner canthus veiled by the epicanthus. In the Caucasian or double eyelid, the inner corner tends to be exposed completely.

Commissures

  • The lateral palpebral commissure (commissura palpebrarum lateralis; external canthus) is more acute than the medial, and the eyelids here lie in close contact with the bulb of the eye.
  • The medial palpebral commissure (commissura palpebrarum medialis; internal canthus) is prolonged for a short distance toward the nose, and the two eyelids are separated by a triangular space, the lacus lacrimalis.

Surgery

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/CuttingLateralCanthus.jpg" caption="Cutting lateral canthus"] ::

Canthoplasty refers to a plastic surgery of the medial and/or lateral canthus. This technique is common in cosmetic procedures, as well as procedures that address eyelid function or malposition.

A canthotomy involves cutting the canthus, often performed to release excessive orbital pressure (i.e., from orbital hemorrhage or infection).

The two canthi of each eye (medial and lateral, that is, inner and outer) are represented in cephalometric analysis by the endocanthion and exocanthion landmarks (single points representing the point of each commissural angle).

Pathology

Telecanthus, or dystopia canthorum, is a lateral displacement of the inner canthi of the eyes, giving an appearance of a widened nasal bridge. It is associated with Waardenburg syndrome, which is due to mutation in PAX gene.

References

References

  1. {{DorlandsDict. two/000016591. canthus
  2. (August 2015). "Reconsideration of the Epicanthus: Evolution of the Eyelid and the Devolutional Concept of Asian Blepharoplasty". Seminars in Plastic Surgery.
  3. Taban, Mehryar R.. (2010). "Aesthetic Lateral Canthoplasty". Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.
  4. (2009). "Nurse Anesthesia". Elsevier Health Sciences.
  5. (March 17, 2004). "Genetic Hearing Loss". UTMB, Dept. of Otolaryngology.
  6. (2006). "Waardenburg syndrome". Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol.

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human-eye-anatomy