The annulus of Zinn, also known as the annular tendon, circle of Zinn-Haller or common tendinous ring, is a ring of fibrous tissue surrounding the
optic nerve at its entrance at the apex of the
orbit. It is the origin for five of the six
extraocular muscles.Some older sources (such as
Gray's Anatomy) distinguish between these terms more precisely, with the annulus tendineus communis being the parent structure, divided into two parts: a lower, the ligament or tendon of Zinn, which gives origin to the
Rectus inferior, part of the Rectus internus, and the lower head of origin of the
Rectus lateralis.an upper, which gives origin to the
Rectus superior, the rest of the
Rectus medialis, and the upper head of the
Rectus lateralis. This upper band is sometimes termed the superior tendon of Lockwood.
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