Infraorbital Region in a Female Face, Anterior View

Description

Centered beneath the inferior orbital rim, the infraorbital region spans the lower eyelid to the upper cheek overlying the maxilla, with the zygomatic bone forming the lateral boundary and the lateral nasal wall and nasofacial sulcus lying medially. Superficial landmarks include the palpebral portion of orbicularis oculi surrounding the inferior palpebral fissure, the infraorbital margin (margo infraorbitalis), and the nasolabial fold descending inferomedially toward the upper lip. Deep to the skin in this territory, the infraorbital foramen typically sits inferior to the orbital rim on the anterior maxilla, transmitting the infraorbital nerve and vessels as they fan out to supply the lower eyelid, lateral nose, and upper lip. Small. Telltale. Clinically, this is the corridor where infraorbital nerve injury becomes apparent after zygomaticomaxillary complex or orbital floor fractures, producing hypoesthesia of the ipsilateral lower lid and upper lip and sometimes dysesthesia along the side of the nose. Precise surface mapping also matters for an infraorbital nerve block, which targets the nerve as it exits the infraorbital foramen, and for avoiding vascular or neural compromise during periorbital filler placement, where the infraorbital artery and angular vessels can be close neighbors in a relatively fixed plane. An anterior facial view clarifies left to right symmetry and the relationship of the infraorbital hollow to the lower eyelid-cheek junction. Ideal applications include head and neck anatomy teaching (surface anatomy and sensory territories), maxillofacial trauma references discussing orbital rim and midface fracture patterns, and plastic surgery or dermatology content addressing tear trough anatomy and safe injection zones in women. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.