ABSTRACT

Length and thickness measurements, their topographic relations and cross section areas of rectus muscles which have functions in eyeball movements, are being investigated with radiological procedures. In addition, it is clinically important to find the normal values of rectus muscles in cadavers.

For this purpose, length, thickness, width and cross section areas of rectus muscles were evaluated in 15 cadavers (10 male, 5 female). Lengths of rectus muscles between common tendinous ring and insertio of eyeball and also width and thickness and cross section area of the muscles from midpoint of these lengths were measured and compared at two eyes.

According to the data acquired; we also statistically compared the differences between the right and the left sides.

In this study, we found thickness of the lateral rectus muscle 3.73 ± 0.84 mm on the right sides and 3.56 ± 0.67 mm on the left sides, cross section area of the lateral rectus muscle 28.17 ± 8.07 mm² on the right sides and 26.79 ± 7.59 mm² on the left sides. All of the other measurements were in consistent with previous studies.

We think that, it is important to know the anatomical and morphometric properties of rectus muscles while the evaluation and follow up of patients.