Superior Tarsal
Extraocular · Head & Neck
The superior tarsal muscle, also called Muller's muscle, is a thin sheet of smooth muscle within the upper eyelid. It arises from the inferior surface of the levator palpebrae superioris and inserts into the superior tarsal plate. Working with the levator, it assists in elevating the upper eyelid and, importantly, maintains the eyelid in its raised, retracted position throughout waking hours. Unlike the striated extraocular muscles, it is not under voluntary control; it is supplied by postganglionic sympathetic fibres that travel from the superior cervical ganglion.
Origin, Insertion, Action & Nerve
Origin
Inferior surface of levator palpebrae superioris
Insertion
Superior tarsal plate of the upper eyelid
Action
Assists in elevating the upper eyelid (smooth muscle); maintains eyelid retraction
Nerve
Postganglionic sympathetic fibers (from the superior cervical ganglion)
Attachments explained
The Superior Tarsal 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
Inferior surface of levator palpebrae superioris
Insertion
Superior tarsal plate of the upper eyelid
Action & function
When the Superior Tarsal contracts, it produces the following movements: Assists in elevating the upper eyelid (smooth muscle); maintains eyelid retraction.
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 Superior Tarsal receives its nerve supply from the Postganglionic sympathetic fibers (from the superior cervical ganglion).
Because a muscle can only contract when its nerve is intact, injury to the Postganglionic sympathetic fibers can weaken or paralyse the Superior Tarsal, impairing the movements it normally produces (assists in elevating the upper eyelid (smooth muscle)). This is why knowing the innervation is central to localising nerve lesions in clinical practice.
How to study the Superior Tarsal (the OIANS method)
Distinguish the superior tarsal muscle from the levator palpebrae superioris that lies just above it: the levator is striated and voluntary, whereas the superior tarsal is smooth muscle and involuntary. Because it inserts on the tarsal plate and arises from the underside of the levator, it fine tunes lid height and holds the eye open, giving the eyelid its steady resting position.
The single most testable fact is its sympathetic innervation from the superior cervical ganglion. This explains Horner syndrome, in which interruption of the sympathetic pathway causes a partial ptosis, milder than the full droop of an oculomotor palsy because the powerful levator still functions. Pairing superior tarsal with Horner syndrome in your mind fixes both the nerve supply and its clinical relevance.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Superior Tarsal located?
The Superior Tarsal is a muscle of the Extraocular group, located in the Head & Neck.
What is the origin of the Superior Tarsal?
Inferior surface of levator palpebrae superioris
What is the insertion of the Superior Tarsal?
Superior tarsal plate of the upper eyelid
What movements does the Superior Tarsal produce?
Assists in elevating the upper eyelid (smooth muscle); maintains eyelid retraction
What nerve supplies the Superior Tarsal?
Postganglionic sympathetic fibers (from the superior cervical ganglion)
Is the Superior Tarsal free to study in OIANS?
The Superior Tarsal 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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