What is the eye muscle that closes the lid called?
The muscle that closes the eyelid is called the orbicularis oculi. Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as a flat, circular sphincter muscle surrounding the eye.
What it is
- A flat, circular sphincter muscle surrounding the eye.
- Closes the eyelids.
- Also compresses the tear sac to help drain tears.
Where it is
- Encircles each eye.
- Lies just under the skin of the eyelids and around the orbit.
- Attached to bone at the inner corner of the orbit.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
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