Levator Palpebrae Superioris
Extraocular · Head & Neck
The levator palpebrae superioris is the principal elevator of the upper eyelid. It arises from the lesser wing of the sphenoid, just anterosuperior to the optic canal, and runs forward above the superior rectus before fanning out into a broad aponeurosis that inserts into the superior tarsal plate and the skin of the upper eyelid. Its sole action is to raise the upper lid, opening the palpebral fissure. It is supplied by the superior division of the oculomotor nerve (CN III). Because it is a striated skeletal muscle working alongside the smooth superior tarsal muscle, damage to the oculomotor nerve produces a complete drooping of the lid, or ptosis.
Origin, Insertion, Action & Nerve
Origin
Lesser wing of the sphenoid, anterosuperior to the optic canal
Insertion
Superior tarsal plate and skin of the upper eyelid
Action
Elevates the upper eyelid
Nerve
Superior division of the oculomotor nerve (CN III)
Attachments explained
The Levator Palpebrae Superioris is defined first by where it attaches. Its origin is the more fixed anchor, usually the proximal or more stable end that stays put during contraction, while its insertion is the more mobile point that is pulled toward the origin when the muscle shortens.
Origin
Lesser wing of the sphenoid, anterosuperior to the optic canal
Insertion
Superior tarsal plate and skin of the upper eyelid
Action & function
When the Levator Palpebrae Superioris contracts, it produces the following movement: Elevates the upper eyelid.
As part of the Extraocular group of the Head & Neck, it works alongside neighbouring muscles to generate smooth, coordinated movement and to stabilise the structures it acts on.
Nerve supply & clinical relevance
The Levator Palpebrae Superioris receives its nerve supply from the Superior division of the oculomotor nerve (CN III).
Because a muscle can only contract when its nerve is intact, injury to the Superior division of the oculomotor nerve can weaken or paralyse the Levator Palpebrae Superioris, impairing the movements it normally produces (elevates the upper eyelid). This is why knowing the innervation is central to localising nerve lesions in clinical practice.
How to study the Levator Palpebrae Superioris (the OIANS method)
Learn the levator palpebrae superioris as the muscle that opens the eye from above. Its origin at the sphenoid near the optic canal and its wide aponeurotic insertion into the tarsal plate and lid skin make its single action, elevation of the upper eyelid, intuitive. Contrast it deliberately with orbicularis oculi, which closes the lid, so you hold the opposing pair together.
Tie it to its clinical picture to lock in the nerve: an oculomotor nerve palsy causes a drooping upper eyelid, or ptosis, alongside the down and out eye of the affected extraocular muscles. Note also that this striated muscle shares the job of lid elevation with the smooth superior tarsal muscle beneath it, which is why sympathetic lesions such as Horner syndrome produce only a milder, partial ptosis.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Levator Palpebrae Superioris located?
The Levator Palpebrae Superioris is a muscle of the Extraocular group, located in the Head & Neck.
What is the origin of the Levator Palpebrae Superioris?
Lesser wing of the sphenoid, anterosuperior to the optic canal
What is the insertion of the Levator Palpebrae Superioris?
Superior tarsal plate and skin of the upper eyelid
What movements does the Levator Palpebrae Superioris produce?
Elevates the upper eyelid
What nerve supplies the Levator Palpebrae Superioris?
Superior division of the oculomotor nerve (CN III)
Is the Levator Palpebrae Superioris free to study in OIANS?
The Levator Palpebrae Superioris is always free to browse. Its full origin, insertion, action and nerve details are open to everyone in the Muscle Directory. Quiz and Flashcard practice for the Head & Neck is part of the one-time Lifetime upgrade, though; only the Upper Limb decks are free to test yourself on.
Related muscles
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