Muscular bridge between the inferior oblique and inferior rectus muscles1

: PurposeIn <FN ID="FN1"><NO>1</NO>All the cadaver orbits were provided by the Department of Anatomy of the Cerrahpasa University of Turkey. Our department contains the records and transferring permissions given from Turkish law court.</FN> this study, we aimed to investigate the muscular bridge between the inferior oblique (IO) and inferior rectus (IR) muscles of the eye.: DesignCohort study.: MethodsThe orbits of sixty intact cadavers with no history of eye muscle or orbital disorders during life were carefully dissected to expose the muscular bridge between the IO and IR muscles. Numbers of the bridges, their length and width were recorded.: ResultsWe observed muscular bridge between IO and IR muscles in 6.6% of 60 orbits. They originated from the lateral side of the IR muscle, and joined to posteromedial side of the IO muscle. Mean length and width were 14.2 ± 6.3 and 1.3 ± 0.2 mm, respectively.: ConclusionsMuscular bridges were found in 6.6% of orbits dissected. We conclude that muscular bridges are important due to potential cause of failed IO or IR muscles surgery. In this respect, before surgery of the extraocular muscles, the muscular bridges should be kept in mind and demonstrated by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in transverse, sagittal, and coronal planes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]