Function And Physiology Of The Tear Film Flashcards
Disorder of the tear film caused by tear deficiency or excessive tear evaporation that causes damage to the interpalpebral ocular surface nad is associated with symptoms of ocular discomfort
Dry eye syndrome
Function of tear film
- provides a smooth refractive surface for clear vision
- maintins the health of corneal and conjunctival epithelial
- acts as the first line of defense against microbial infections
Tear film structure from anterior to posterior
Lipid layer
Aqueous layer
Mucous layer
Mucous layer and aqueous layer of the tear film
They are sort of mixed together and have a gradient of mucins
Mucus layer composition
Intermost layer composed of mucin, immunoglobulins, urea, salts, glucose, leukocytes, cellular debris, and enzymes
High molecule weight glycoproteins that are heavily glycosylated
Mucin
Two types of mucins
Membrane associated mucins
Secretory mucins.
A dense barrier to pathogen penetrate, at the epithelial cell-tear film interface
Membrane associated mucin
Act as a cleaning crew, moving through the tear fluid and collecting debris that can be removed via the nsaolacrimal duct during blinking
Secretory mucins
Function of mucus layer
- Maintain water on the surface fo the eye
- The mucins also interact with tear lipids layer to lower surface tension thereby stabilizing the tear film
- hydrophilic
- provides lubircation for eyelid movement
- traps exploited surface cell, foreign particles and bacteria
Sources of mucus for the mucus layer
Goblet cells and squamous cells of cornea and conjunctiva
Goblet cells major one
- neural control
- sensory nerves
- PNS-increases secretion
- SNS help regulate the goblet cell proliferation, not really to do with mucin increasing
Aqueous layer composition
- composed of water, electrolytes, protein, peptides growth factors, vitamins, and hormones
- middle layer
- electrolytes include sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium
What does sodium and chloride do in the aqueous layer
Main contributors to osmolarity of tear film (osmolarity increases with dry eye)
What does potassium and calcium do to aqueous layer of the tear film
Important for maintaining corneal epithelium health
Osmaolrty and dry eye
Osmolarity increases with dry eye
-Na and CL
Proteins of the aqueous layer
Albumin, immunoglobulins (IgA) histamine, lactoferin, lysozyme, interleukins, antimicrboials
Peptide growth factors in the aqueous layer
EGF, TGF-B, HGF (hepatocyte grwoth facotr), and vitamin A
Aqueous layer function
Electrolytes act as a buffer to maintain a constant pH and contribute to maintaining epithelial integrity of the ocular surface