Human Eye Flashcards
What do receptors/sensory organs do?
Sensory organs or receptors receive stimuli from the environment and inform the body of any changes in the environment, by generating nerve impulses
List all the parts of the human eye
Cornea, conjunctiva, sclera, iris, pupil, eyelid, eyelashes, tear glands
Retina, choroid, lens, blind spot, optic nerve, ciliary muscle, suspension ligament, aqueous humour and vitreous humour, rectus muscles
What is the cornea and its function?
Transparent refractive layer covering the front of the eye
Refracts light
Connected to the sclera layer (outermost), but clear over the iris to let light through
What is the conjunctiva and its function?
It is a thin transparent membrane covering the sclera that helps lubricate the eye
What is the sclera and its function?
It is a tough white outer layer of connective tissue (white part of eyeball), becomes the cornea (transparent) over the iris
What is the iris and its function?
It consists of circular and radial muscles (antagonistic) of the iris (an effector), controls size of the pupil
What is the pupil and its function?
It is the circular opening of the eye that allows light to enter
What is the eyelid and its function?
It protects the cornea from mechanical damage
Blinking spreads tears and wipes off dust from the cornea
What is the eyelashes and its function?
Helps shield eye from dust particles
What is the tear glands and its function?
It secretes tears (via tear duct) to:
Wash away dust particles
Keep cornea moist
Lubricate conjunctiva to reduce friction when eyelids move
What is the retina and its function?
It is the innermost layer of the eye Contains photoreceptors (rods and cones), which generate nerve impulses which are transmitted towards the brain along the sensory neurones in the optic nerve
What (and where) is the fovea and its function?
Forvea is in the retina, and it contains the highest concentration of photoreceptors
What is the choroid and its function?
It is the middle layer of the eye
It is black in colour and absorbs light, to prevent internal reflection of light inside the eye (why iris seems black)
Contains blood vessels that provide oxygen and glucose to eye
What is the lens and its function?
The lens is elastic and flexible and its curvature can be changed to look at things at different distances
Helps to refract and focus light onto retina
What is the blind spot?
There are no photoreceptors in the area of the retina where the optic nerve leaves the eye, nothing can be seen there (not light sensitive)