Fundamentals and Principles of Ophthalmology Flashcards
What is the volume of the adult orbit?
Slightly less than 30cc
What is the average orbital height and width at the entrance, respectively?
35mm and 45mm
What is the depth of the orbit from the orbital entrance to the orbital apex?
40-45mm
What seven bones make up the bony orbit?
Frontal, zygomatic, maxillary, ethmoidal, sphenoid, lacrimal, palatine
These four bones make up the medial wall of the orbit.
Frontal process of maxillary bone, lacrimal bone, orbital plate of ethmoid bone, and lesser wing of sphenoid bone
These three bones make up the orbital floor.
Maxillary, palatine, and orbital plate of the zygomatic bone
This is a small elevation of the orbital margin of the zygomatic bone that lies ~11mm below the frontozygomatic suture. It is the site of attachment for: ligament of lateral rectus, suspensory ligament of the eyeball (Lockwood suspensory ligament), aponeurosis of levator palpebrae superioris, and the Whitnall ligament.
Whitnall tubercle (lateral orbital tubercle)
The superior orbital fissure transmits these four structures.
Lacrimal nerve (CN V1), frontal nerve (V1), CN IV (trochlear), superior ophthalmic vein
These are the three roots that are received by the ciliary ganglion (located about 1cm in front of the annulus of Zinn).
Nasociliary branch of V1 (sensory from cornea, iris, ciliary body), inferior division of CN III (inferior oblique, parasympathetic to iris), sympathetics (do not synapse; innervates blood vessels and dilator muscle of pupil)
These are the lengths of insertions of the medial, inferior, lateral, and superior recti, respectively, that form the spiral of Tillaux.
5.5, 6.5, 6.9, and 7.7mm
This consists of superior and inferior orbital tendons and is the origin of the four rectus muscles.
Annulus of Zinn
This muscle arises from the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone, at the apex of the orbit, just superior to the annulus of Zinn.
Levator palpebrae superioris
This muscle originates from the periosteum of the body of the sphenoid bone, above and medial to the optic foramen.
Superior oblique
This muscle originates anteriorly, from a shallow depression in the orbital plate of the maxillary bone, at the anteromedial corner of the orbital floor near the lacrimal fossa.
Inferior oblique
Innervation of the lateral rectus.
CN VI (abducens nerve)
The upper division of CN3 (oculomotor) innervates these muscles.
Levator palpebrae superioris and superior rectus
The lower division of CN3 (oculomotor) innervates these muscles.
Medial rectus, inferior rectus, and inferior oblique
This type of muscle fiber is unique to extraocular muscles. They are smaller than twitch-type fibers and contract slowly and smoothly. They tend to be more superficial (near the orbital wall) and are innervated by multiple grapelike nerve endings (en grappe). Theya re useful for smooth pursuit.
Tonic-type muscle fibers
These muscle fibers are similar to skeletal muscle fibers. The are larger and located deeper in the muscle. They contract rapidly and have platelike nerve endings (en plaque). They aid in rapid saccadic movements of the eye.
Twitch-type muscle fibers
How much can the upper eyelid be raised by the action of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle alone?
15mm
How much can the upper eyelid be raised by the frontalis muscle?
2mm
The superior eyelid fold is present near the upper border of the tarsus, where this establishes its first insertional attachments. Since few attachments are present in many Asian individuals, the superior eyelid fold is minimal or absent.
Levator aponeurosis
The delicate gray line (or intermarginal sulcus) corresponds histologically to the most superficial portion of this muscle, as well as to the avascular plane of the eyelid. Anterior to this line, the eyelashes (cilia) arise, and posterior to this line are the openings of the tarsal (or meibomian) glands.
Orbicularis oculi (muscle of Riolan)
These are modified sebaceous glands associated with the cilia (eyelashes).
Glands of Zeis
These are apocrine sweat glands of the skin that are around the margins of the eyelashes.
Glands of Moll
This part of the orbicularis oculi muscle acts as a sphincter and functions solely as a voluntary muscle. It inserts in a complex way into the medial canthal tendon and other portions of the orbital rim and the corrugator supercilii muscle.
Orbital part
This part of the orbicularis oculi muscle functions both voluntarily and involuntarily in spontaneous and reflex blinking.
Palpebral part
This is a thin sheet of connective tissue that encircles the orbit as an extension of the periosteum of the orbital floor and roof.
Orbital septum
The levator palpebrae superioris changes near the Whitnall ligament and divides anterior into the aponeurosis and posteriorly into this. It is sympathetically innervated.
Superior tarsal (Muller) muscle
These are modified holocrine sebaceous glands that are oriented vertically in parallel rows through the tarsus. There are 30-40 orifices in the upper eyelid and 20-30 in the lower lid.
Tarsal (meibomian) glands
This is misdirection in the orientation of the eyelashes.
Trichiasis
This is aberrant growth of eyelashes through the orificies of the meibomian glands.
Distichiasis
The medial group of lymphatics in the eyelids drain into these nodes.
Submandibular lymph nodes
The lateral group of lymphatics in the eyelids drain into these nodes.
Superficial preauricular lymph nodes
This is a small, fleshy, ovoid structure attached to the inferomedial side of the plica semilunaris. It is a piece of modified skin that contains sebaceous glands and fine, colorless hairs.
Caruncle
This is a narrow, highly vascular, crescent-shaped fold of conjunctiva lateral and partly under the caruncle. It is a vestigial structure analogous to the nictitating membrane (3rd eyelid) of dogs and other animals.
Plica semilunaris
These cells line the lumen of the lacrimal gland
Acinar cells
These cells surround the parenchyma of the lacrimal gland and are covered by a basement membrane.
Myoepithelial cells
These are two accessory lacrimal glands that are located at the proximal lid borders. They are cytologically identical to the main lacrimal gland and receive similar innervation (secretomotor cholinergic, VIP, sympathetic, and sensory via CN V1 lacrimal nerve)
Accessory lacrimal glands of Krause and Wolfring
This is the approximate diameter of the lacrimal puncta
0.3mm
The inferior and superior puncta are about how far from the medial canthus, respectively?
6.5mm, 6.0mm
This is a mucous membrane consisting of nonkeratinizing squamous epithelium with numerous goblet cells and a thin, richly vascularized substantia propria containing lymphatic vessels, plasma cells, macrophages, and mast cells. In places, there are collections of T and B lymphocytes (they corresond with MALT). It is divided into 3 geographic areas: palpebral, forniceal, and bulbar.
Conjunctiva
This is an envelope of elastic connective tissue that fuses posteriorly with the optic nerve sheath and anteriorly with the thin intermuscular septum (3mm from the limbus). It is the cavity within which the globe moves.
Tenon capsule (fascia bulbi)
This is a fusion of the sheath of the inferior rectus, inferior tarsal muscle, and the check ligaments of the medial and lateral recti. It provides support for the globe and the anteroinferior orbit.
Lockwood ligament
These arteries originate from the ophthalmic artery and supply the whole uveal tract, the cilioretinal arteries, the sclera, the margin of the cornea, and the adjacent conjunctiva. Occlusion (as in giant cell arteritis) can have profound consequences (such as anterior ischemic optic neuropathy). Within the eye, they form the intramuscular circle of the iris, from which branches supply the major arterial circle (which is usually discontinuous). This circle lies within the apex of the ciliary muscle, which it supplies together with the iris.
Posterior ciliary arteries
These arteries arise from the ophthalmic artery and usually supply (in pairs) the superior, medial, and inferior rectus muscles.
Anterior ciliary arteries
These vessels drain the venous system of the choroid, ciliary body, and iris. They exit 14-25mm from the limbus between the rectus muscles.
Vortex veins
These are the radius of the curvature of the cornea and that of the sclera, respectively, making the shape of the globe an oblate spheroid.
8mm, 12mm
How deep is the anterior chamber, and what is its average volume?
3mm, 200 microliters
What is the average volume of the posterior chamber?
60 microliters
What is the volume of the vitreous cavity?
5-6ml
What is the volume of the average adult eye?
6.5-7.0ml
This is the cornea’s posterior landmark, which is the termination of the Descemet membrane.
Schwalbe line
A persistent membrane over this structure in infants leads to excessive tearing and discharge.
Valve of Hasner
What are the three layers of the precorneal tear film, and where are each predominantly produced?
Superficial oily layer (meibomian glands), middle aqueous layer (lacrimal glands), deep mucin layer (conjunctival goblet cells)
The air-tear film interface at the surface of the cornea forms a lens of approximately this power. It is the main refractive element of the eye.
+43D
This is a tough layer of the cornea that consists of randomly dispersed collagen fibrils. It is a modified region of the anterior stroma that is 8-12 micrometers thick. It is not restored after injury but rather replaced by scar tissue.
Bowman layer (membrane)
This is the basal lamina of the corneal endothelium that is PAS positive. It is 3-5 micrometers thick at birth and increases to 10-12 micrometers at adulthood. It is rich in type IV collagen.
Descemet membrane
These are peripheral excrescences of the Descemet membrane that are common especially among elderly people.
Hassall-Henle warts
There are central excrescences in the Descemet membrane that can appear with increasing age or certain diseases (such as Fuch’s corneal dystrophy)
Cornea guttae (guttata)
The active transport of ions by these hexagonal cells leads to the transfer of water from the corneal stroma and the maintenance of stroma deturgescence and transparency. Mitosis is rare in humans, and the overall number decrease with age.
Corneal endothelial cells
Where is the sclera thinnest and thickest?
Thinnest (0.3mm): just behind the insertions of the rectus muscles. Thickest (1.0mm): posterior pole around optic nerve head.
What is the most common site of scleral rupture following traumatic injury?
Superonasal quadrant near the limbus
These five structures are included in the limbus, or transition zone between the peripheral cornea and the anterior sclera.
Conjunctiva/limbal palisades, tenon capsule, episclera, corneoscleral stroma, aqueous outflow apparatus
The anterior chamber angle, which lies at the junction of the cornea and the iris, consists of these five structures.
Schwalbe line, Schlemm canal/trabecular meshwork, scleral spur, anterior border of the ciliary body, iris
This is a nontrabecular drainage pathway across the ciliary body into the supraciliary space. It may be influenced by age, and it accounts for up to 50% of aqueous outflow in young people.
Uveoscleral Pathway
This receives the insertion of the longitudinal ciliary muscle, and contraction opens up the trabecular spaces. Contractile cells are found within this structure, as well as mechanoreceptors which receive sensory innervation.
Scleral spur
These are the three different nerve pathways (and five different nevre fibers) that innervate the myofibroblast-like scleral spur cells and that cause an increase in outflow from the trabecular meshwork.
Sympathetic, sensory, pterygopalatine nerve pathways (neuropeptide Y, substance P, CGRP, VIP, NO) (**NO cholinergic fibers)
This is a circular spongework of connective tissue lined by trabeculocytes, with contractile and phagocytic properties. It is roughly triangular in cross section, with the apex at the Schwalbe line and base formed by the scleral spur and ciliary body.
Trabecular meshwork
This is a circular tube that closely resembles a lymphatic vessel, formed by a continuous monolayer of nonfenestrated endothelium and a thin connective tissue wall. There are giant vacuoles along the internal canal wall, and their size and number are increased by a rise in IOP which may contribute to the pressure-dependent outflow of the aqueous humor.
Schelmm canal
This is the thickest portion of the iris stroma where anastomoses occur between the arterial and venous arcades to form the minor vascular circle of the iris.
The collarette
This term refers to an outfolding over the pupil of the iris pigment epithelium. It is a misnomer because the IPE is derived from neural ectoderm (not neural crest) and therefore is not considered part of the uvea.
Ectropion uveae
What is the pathway of the first order sympathetic neurons to the dilator muscle?
Begin in ipsilateral posterolateral hypothalamus, pass thru brainstem, synapse in the IML of the spinal cord (mainly T1).
What is the pathway of the second order sympathetic neurons to the dilator muscle?
Begin in the IML (mainly T1), exit spinal cord, pass over pulmonary apex and thru stellate ganglion, synapses in the superior cervical ganglion.
What is the pathway of the third order sympathetic neurons to the dilator muscle?
Begin in the superior cervical ganglion, joins internal carotid plexus, enters cavernous sinus, travels with CN V1 to orbit and to dilator muscle.
What is the pathway of the presynpatic parasympathetic neurons to the iris sphincter muscle?
Begin in the Edinger-Westphal subnucleus of CN3, follow inferior division of CN3 into cavernous sinus and to inferior oblique muscle, synapse in ciliary ganglion.
What is the pathway of the postsynpatic parasympathetic neurons to the iris sphincter muscle?
Begin in the ciliary ganglion, travel with short ciliary nerves to the iris sphincter. (unusual in that they are myelinated)
This is a relatively avascular, smooth, pigmented zone of the ciliary body that is 4mm wide and extends from the ora serrata to the ciliary processes. It is the safest posterior surgical approach to the vitreous cavity (3-4mm from the corneal limbus).
Pars plana
This is a PAS-positive lamina resulting from the fusion of the basal laminae of the RPE and the choriocapillaris of the choroid, extending from the optic disc to the ora serrata. It consists of a series of connective tissue sheets that are highly permeable to small molecules (such as fluoroscein). Defects may appear spontaneously in myopia/pseudoxanthoma elasticum, or they may result from trauma or inflammation.
Bruch membrane
This is a continuous layer of large capillaries lying in a single plane beneath the RPE. They contain multiple fenestrations.
Choriocapillaris
How much focusing power does the lens contribute in the average adult eye?
+20.00D
This is the lens basal lamina, which is a product of lens epithelium, that is rich in type IV collagen.
Lens campsule
What is the thickness of the anterior and posterior lens capsule in the adult lens, respectively?
Anterior: 15.5 micrometers; posterior: 2.8 micrometers
This is the orientation of the Y-shaped suture anteriorly and posteriorly in the lens, formed by interdigitation of the anterior and posterior tips of the spindle-shaped fibers.
Anterior: Y-shaped; posterior: inverted Y-shaped
The lens is held in place by these. They originate from the basal laminae of the nonpigmented epithelium of the pars plana and plicata of the ciliary body. Mutations in the fibrillin gene lead to weakening of these and subluxation of the lens.
Zonular fibers (suspensory ligaments)
These are the 10 layers of the neurosensory retina, from inner to outer retina
ILM, NFL, GCL, IPL, INL, middle limiting membrane, OPL, ONL, ELM, rod/cone inner and outer segments
This is a monolayer of hexagonal (cuboidal) cells that extends anteriorly from the optic disc to the ora serrata. It has many functions, including: vitamin A metabolism, maintenance of the outer BRB, phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segments, light absorption, heat exchange, formation of basal lamina of Bruch membrane, production of mucopolysaccharide matrix surrounding outer segments, and active transport of materials.
Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)
These are “wear-and-tear” pigments that probably arises from the discs of photoreceptor out segments and represent residual bodies arising from phagosomal activity. These are less electron dense than melanosomes, increase with age, and are responsible for the signal observed with fundus autofluorescence.
Lipofuscin granules
These are glial cells that extend vertically from the ELM inward to the ILM, with their nucleus in the INL. The provide structural support and nutrition to the retina and are crucial to normal physiology.
Muller cells
The inner portion of the retina is perfused by branches of this artery.
Central retinal artery (cilioretinal artery from the ciliary circulation also present in 18-32% of eyes)
This is not a true membrane; it is formed by the attachment sites of adjacent photoreceptors and Muller cells and is highly fenestrated. It is the outermost layer of the neurosensory retina.
External limiting membrane (ELM)
This term refers to the outer plexiform layer (OPL, composed of interconnections between photoreceptor synaptic bodies and horizontal and bipolar cells) in the macular region, where it is thicker and contains more fibers because the axons of the rods and cones become longer and more oblique as they deviate from the fovea.
Henle fiber layer
This region of the neurosensory retina contains nuclei of bipolar, Muller, horizontal, and amacrine cells.
Inner nuclear layer (INL)
This is not a true membrane; it is formed by the footplates of Muller cells and attachments to the basal lamina (smooth on the vitreal side but undulating on the retinal side where it follows the contour of the Muller cells).
Internal limiting membrane (ILM)
Cells and their processes of the neurosensory retina are oriented perpendicular to the plane of the RPE. Because of this, blood or exudates tend to form round blots in the _ layers (where small capillaries are found) and linear or flame-shaped patterns in the _ layer. As a result, radial or star-shaped patterns may arise when these extracellular spaces are filled with serum and exudate.
Outer layers; nerve fiber layer
These are two major carotenoid pigments located chiefly in the Henle fiber layer. Their proportions vary with distance from the fovea, corresponding to the rod-to-cone ratio. The former is more concentrated in cone-dense areas; the latter is more concentrated in rod-dense areas of the retina.
Zeaxanthin, lutein
What is the approximate diameter of the fovea?
1.5mm (comparable to the optic nerve head)
This is where the GCL, INL, and OPL are thickest. It is 0.5mm wide and surrounds the fovea.
Parafovea
This is the most peripheral region of the macula that is about 1.5mm wide.
Perifovea
This is the boundary between the retina and the pars plana. It is temporally smooth and serrated nasally, and retinal blood vessels end in loops prior to reaching this boundary. It is a watershed zone between the anterior and posterior vascular systems.
Ora serrata
This occupies 4/5 of the volume of the globe and consists of 99% water (although it is twice as viscous as water, mainly due to hyaluronic acid). It becomes more fluid with age and frequently separates from the inner retina.
Vitreous
This is an S-shaped channel that forms due to the regression of the hyaloid vasculature during embryonic development. It passes sinuously from a point slightly nasal to the posterior pole of the lens to the margin of the optic nerve head.
Cloquet canal
This is a point slightly nasal to the posterior pole of the lens present in some individuals that is a remnant of the fetal hyaloid vasculature.
Mittendorf dot