Eye Histology Flashcards
what are the two compartments of the eye?
- divided by lens, suspensory ligaments and ciliary body
1. anterior compartment: filled with aqueous humor (has anterior and posterior chambers seperated by iris)
2. posterior compartment: filled with vitreous humor
what three tissues can eye be divided into?
- Corneo-scleral layer: (outer fibrous tunic)
Makes up the sclera in the posterior (5/6) wall of the eye and cornea in anterior of eye - Uveal layer (middle vascular tunic)
- Makes up the choroid in the posterior (5/6) wall of the eye - Retinal layer (neural tunic/ inner tunic)
corneal - scleral layer
outermost tunica layer
- cornea is transparent
- sclera is opaque and lined by middle/vascular layer that is pigmented and absorbs light
- limbus = zone of transition with cornea and sclera
- this layer is primarily for protection of innerstructures of eye. maintains shape and consistency of the eye.
Uveal layer: what does it contain?
- choroid = vascular layer in posterior 2/3 of eye, this layer thickens to be ciliary body in anterior of eye
- ciliary processes, extend inward from ciliary body
- vascular layer continues as the iris anteriorly
- vascular layer is pigmented, reducing reflection of light
- blood vessels travel through this layer.
- the anterior portion contains muscle of ciliary body and dilator constrictor of iris
Retinal layer/ neural tunic: what is it composed of?
two layers:
- outer pigmented layer
- inner retinal layer
- the posterior 2/3 of retina is sensitive to light
- retina contains photoreceptor neurons (rods and cones), conducting neurons (bipolar and ganglion cells), association neurons (horizontal and amacrine cells)
- axons from retinal ganglion cells pass across the surface of the retina and converge on the papilla, or optic disk, and leave the eye through many openings of the sclera to form the optic n.
conjunctiva
- a stratified to columnar epithelium with mucous secreting goblet cells that are supported by a thin lamina propria
- it lines the anterior surface of the eyeball up to the cornea, and the inner surface of the eyelid.
tarsal glands
glands located deep to the conjunctiva and under the eyelid
- secrete lipid-containing product that retards evaporation
lacrimal glands
produce tears to protect the cornea.
what is the sclera?
- opaque, white, posterior 5/6 of the eye
- in first layer
- nearly avascular
- continuous with cornea
- composed of collagen and elastin
5 layers of the cornea
- transparent, avascular, but highly innervated
1. outer epithelium (nonkaratinzed squamous)
2. Bowman’s membrane (thin basal lamina- noncellular layer)
3. Substantia Propria (“stroma”, dense collagenous tissue witih sparse keratinocytes)
4. Descemet’s membrane: thick basal lamina
5. corneal endothelium (resp. for active transport of fluid out of SP and allowing diffusion of metabolites from aqueous humor)
which corneal cell layer has ability to heal?
corneal endothelium
where do nn. exist in the cornea?
myelinated nn. can be found in the stroma. after crossing bowman’s layer, nn. become unmyelinated and extend toward the surface.
- this is what makes the cornea so sensitive
myopia
= nearsightedness
- light rays are focused in FRONT of the retina
- this occurs b/c cornea is too curved, or lens is too powerful for length of globe
hyperopia
“farsightedness”
light rays are focused behind the retina
- lens and cornea are too weak, or length of the globe is too short.
astigmatism
due to incorrect shape of the cornea
LASIK
“laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis”
- for both myopia and hyperopia
- procedure:
- a corneal flap is raised using a microkeratome
- A UV or “cool laser” is used to ablate a precise amount of the exposed corneal stroma
- the flap is irrigated and replaced
- NO sutures are applied (the flat remain in place due to the dehydration pump action of the corneal endothelium)
- corneal epithelial cells migrate from the periphery to the wound