Stager D R, Porter J, Weakley D R, Stidham D B
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 1997;95:453-62; discussion 463-5.
To delineate the nature of the nerve capsule to the inferior oblique muscle at birth and adulthood, and to compare it to the nerve capsules of other extraocular muscles.
Fresh autopsy specimens were obtained from a newborn and a 26 year-old male. The length of the inferior oblique nerve was analyzed with high magnification photomicroscopy and electron microscopy and compared to the nerve capsules of the adult medial, lateral, inferior and superior rectus muscles. These were also compared to the intracranial portion of the third cranial nerve of the adult specimen.
The collagen layer of the nerve to the inferior oblique was present throughout its course. It is well developed in the newborn and comparable to the adult specimen. The nerves to the medial, inferior, lateral and superior rectus muscles are also surrounded by a similar capsule containing collagen fibers that are aligned parallel to the axon of the nerve. The intracranial portion of the third cranial nerve only has a thin fibrous capsule.
The nerve capsule of the inferior oblique comprises a surrounding collagen layer, presumably to protect the nerve from stretching. This layer is well developed along the entire course of the nerve and is present from birth. The nerves to the other extraocular muscles have a similar capsule that likely serves a similar function. These findings expand current understanding of the nerves to the extraocular muscles and may be useful for improving treatments.
描绘出生时及成年后下斜肌神经被膜的性质，并将其与其他眼外肌的神经被膜进行比较。
从一名新生儿和一名26岁男性获取新鲜尸检标本。使用高倍光学显微镜和电子显微镜分析下斜肌神经的长度，并与成年内直肌、外直肌、下直肌和上直肌的神经被膜进行比较。还将这些与成年标本的第三脑神经颅内部分进行比较。
下斜肌神经的胶原层在其全程均存在。在新生儿中发育良好，与成年标本相当。内直肌、下直肌、外直肌和上直肌的神经也被类似的含有与神经轴突平行排列的胶原纤维的被膜所包围。第三脑神经的颅内部分仅有一层薄的纤维被膜。
下斜肌的神经被膜包括一层周围胶原层，推测其作用是保护神经免受拉伸。这一层在神经的整个行程中均发育良好，且出生时就存在。其他眼外肌的神经有类似的被膜，可能具有类似的功能。这些发现扩展了目前对眼外肌神经的认识，可能有助于改进治疗方法。
