periorbitální

Periorbital, written with the diacritic form periorbitální in some languages, is an anatomical term describing the region surrounding the orbital cavity of the skull. It refers to the tissues and structures around the eye socket and is used in fields such as anatomy, ophthalmology, and medicine to describe location and pathology.

The periorbital area includes the eyelids and their supporting tissues, the lacrimal apparatus, the orbital septum, and the skin and subcutaneous tissues surrounding the eye. It also encompasses the periosteum (periorbita) lining the margins of the orbital bones and the adjacent periorbital fat pads that cushion the globe.

Clinically, the periorbital region is important because swelling or infection can arise in these tissues. Periorbital cellulitis is an infection of the soft tissues anterior to the orbital septum (eyelid and surrounding tissues) and is typically less severe than orbital cellulitis, which involves contents within the orbit and can threaten vision. Accurate assessment often requires careful examination and imaging, such as a CT scan, to distinguish the two conditions.

Other related conditions include periorbital edema, which is swelling around the eyes, and periorbital hematoma, a bruise around the eye commonly resulting from trauma. In anatomy and radiology, the periorbital region is used to describe structures and processes adjacent to the orbit, including the orbital septum, periorbital fat, and surrounding muscles and vessels.