Ocular Physiology Flashcards
What purpose does the abundant sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in EOMs serve?
Allows greater access to Ca, promoting muscle contraction
What is the approximate number of muscle fibers in an EOM motor unit?
10 muscle fibers per motor unit
Why is it important that EOMs have very small motor units?
Allows for small, precise, accurate movements
What two ocular conditions can Botox be used to treat?
Strabismus
Blepharospasm
What is the MOA of Botox?
Inhibits release of ACh at the neuromuscular junction
What is the purpose of aqueous?
Maintain the shape of the anterior chamber
Helps transmit light to the retina
Provides nutrients and oxygen
Moves waste products from the anterior portion of the eye
Why is carbonic anhydrase important in aqueous production?
Aids in production if bicarbonate, which causes an ion gradient
What is the mathematical relationship between liquid content of the vitreous and age?
Linear - as age increases, the amount of liquid in the vitreous increases linearly
What is the relative charge inside an axon?
Negative
Directing a pt to look left with both eyes would be what classification of eye movement?
Levoversion
What is one unique characteristic of vortex veins?
They don’t contain valves
Which layers of the cornea prefer lipophilic substances?
Epithelium
Endothelium
Which layer of the cornea is hydrophilic?
Stroma
When an ophthalmic drug contacts the tear film, the pH of the tears favors what?
Alteration of the drug to a more non-ionized state
-non-ionized = lipid soluble
TBUT occurs as a result of what?
Migration of lipid into contact with mucous
Parasympathetic innervation is the primary stimulus for increased production and secretion of all of the different layers of the tear film except:?
Lipid secretion - lipids are secreted via blinking
Which nerve is responsible for reflex tearing?
VII
What does the main lacrimal gland contribute to?
Emotional tears
Reflex tears
What is the nutrient supply for the cornea?
Aqueous humor
What is the main oxygen supply for the open eye?
Tear film
What is the main oxygen supply for the closed eye?
Palpebral conj - anterior cornea
Aqueous - posterior cornea
Tear drainage occurs by what mechanism?
Contraction of two muscles; one widens the lacrimal sac, and the other acts on the canaliculi to pump tears into the widened sac - stimulated by blinking
What portions of the orbicularis oculi are used in forced closure of the lid?
Both orbital and palpebral portions
Which nerve is responsible for reflex blinking?
CN V
-CN VII actually executes the blink
What areas form the blood retinal barrier?
Tight junctions in the wall of retinal vessels
Tight junctions between RPE cells
-NOTHING in the choroid contributes to the blood/retinal barriers
Where is the majority of the blood found within the eye?
Long and short posterior ciliary arteries
-Choroid has the majority of the blood flow
What does the long posterior ciliary artery supply?
Anterior choroid
Contributes to the major arterial circle of the iris
What does the short posterior ciliary artery supply?
Posterior choroid
Forms circle of Zinn (provides blood for the surface of the optic disc)
The majority of in the eye is in the choroid. Where is the majority of oxygen in the eye?
Retinal arteries
Stimulation of sympathetic receptors can cause what IOP response?
Both increase or decrease, depending on which receptors are acted upon
A2 - decrease (decreases blood in MACI)
B1/B2 - increase (increases aqueous production)
Sympathetic stimulation of uveal vessels leads to what change?
Vasoconstriction
Which vasculature of the eye doesn’t respond to sympathetic stimulation? Why?
Retina - it autoregulates
What does perfusion pressure refer to?
The pressure difference between arteries and veins of a particular tissue
Which is good for the lens: glutathion or calcium?
Glutathion
-“Ca is crappy for the lens”
Are crystallins soluble or insoluble?
Soluble lens proteins