The canine space, or infraorbital space, is a paired compartment in the soft tissues of the face, overlying the maxilla near the canine tooth root and covered by the levator labii superioris muscle.
Gross anatomy
The canine space contains fat and branches of the infraorbital nerve.
Boundaries
The canine space has the following boundaries:
- anteriorly: levator labii superioris muscle 1
- posteriorly: levator anguli oris muscle 1 or maxilla
- medially: levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle 2
- laterally: levator anguli oris muscle 2
- superiorly: origin of the levator labii superior muscle 2
- inferiorly: orbicularis oris muscle 2
Related pathology
Periapical infection from the canine that perforates the buccal cortex will spread into the canine space.