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The nucleus of this monograph was a thesis submitted by the author to the Department of Anatomy at the University of Amsterdam. It is enlarged by reprints of articles that the author had published in anatomical journals in the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
The author used a new and somewhat unusual anatomical approach. He dissected the orbit from in front, and by careful dissection a highly organized connective tissue system was discovered. Connective tissue septa were found extending from Tenon capsule to the periorbit. Histologically, they consisted of connective tissue that contain smooth muscle cells and blood vessels.
The deeper orbit could not be explored by this dissecting method and for these areas thick celloidin sections were prepared. These thick sections allowed a three-dimensional examination and illustration of the orbital connective tissues. A special connective tissue compartment for each of the extraocular muscles were found. These structures were followed during fetal