Orbit, eye, and vision Flashcards
Cornea
- the transparent portion of the eye that covers the anterior portion of the eye
- this is part of the fibrous layer
- this is avascular
- is continuous with the sclera
- covered by a delicate stratified squamous epithelium
- has many free nerve endings –> sensitive to pain
what is the fibrous layer and what are the functions
- this is made up of the cornea and the sclera
- this is the outer most layer of the eye
functions:
- provides mechanical support and physical protection
- attachment site for the extraocular muscles
- contains structures involved in focusing process
sclera
this is the white portion of the eye
- this is part of the fibrous layer of the eye
what is the vascular layer
- this includes blood vessels, lymphatics, and the intrinsic eye muscles
- has the iris, pupil, and choroid
functions of the vascular layer of the eye
functions:
- provides routes for blood and lymph vessels supplying the eye tissues
- regulates the amount of light entering the eye
- secreting and reabsorbing the aqueous humor circulating within the eye
- controls the shape of the lens (essential part of focusing)
iris
- this is a contractile muscle made up of smooth muscle that forms the colored portion of the eye
- this is deep to the cornea
- contains blood vessels, pigment cells, and two layers of smooth muscle
sphincter pupillae
this is one of the layers of smooth muscle within the iris
- this is contracted to decrease the diameter of the pupil in response to brighter and more light that is entering the eye (this Limits the light entering the eye and allows for protection of the photoreceptors and structures from UV)
- innervated by parasympathetic innervation from the autonomic nervous system
describe the sympathetic input to the dilator pupillae
- this causes contraction of the dilator pupillae in response to dim light or darkness
- this allows for more light to enter the eye to figure out what is going on in the environment
- the fibers come from the superior cervical ganglion and jump on to the CN 3 to get to the dilator pupillae (they are acquired fibers since they do not originate in CN 3)
dilator pupillae
- this is one of the layers of smooth muscle within the iris
- this contracts to increase the diameter of the pupil to allow for more light to enter the eye
- this is innervated by the sympathetic portion of the autonomic nervous system
describe the parasympathetic input to the sphincter pupillae
- causes the contraction go the muscle to decrease the diameter of the pupil in response to brighter and more light that is entering the eye
- this is from CN 3 and ciliary ganglion
- this is good for protecting the eye and limiting the amount of light entering the eye
- CN 3 will travel through the superior orbital fissure and the fibers will then synapse at the ciliary ganglion
- the postsynaptic fibers will then travel to the pupillae
pupil
this is the opening in the center of the iris in which light enters the eye
ciliary body
this is a thickened portion of the choroid that encircles the lens of the eye
ciliary muscles
- this is a muscular ring projecting into the interior of the eye
- this can apply or take away tension on the ciliary processes and this changed the amount that the ligaments pull on the lens, which allows for a change in the shape of the lens
ciliary processes
these are folds in the epithelium of the ciliary body where the suspensory ligaments attach
suspensory ligaments
- also called ciliary zonule
- these run from the ciliary process to the lens and they create a circle around the lens
- the lens is essentially suspended by these ligaments
lens
- this is responsible for accomodation
- this is a transparent, deformable, biconcave disc
- bends light rays that enter the eye and focus the light on the retina with the highest acuity
accommodation:
changing the shape of the lens to focus on objects near and far
the choroid
the middle vascular layer in the wall of the eye
- delivers oxygen and nutrients to 1/3 of the retina
retina
this is the inner layer of the eye
- this has two layers, the pigmented layer and the neural layer
- this is the first place we process visual information
- one of the few places in the body with bipolar cells
pigmented layer
this is the thin outer layer of the retina
- this is where the rods and cones process the information
- this absorbs light after it passes through the retina
- this has important biochemical interactions with retinal photoreceptors
neural layer
- this is a thicker inner layer of the retina that contains visual receptors and associated neurons
- contains photoreceptors
- supporting cells and neurons for the processing and integration of visual information
- blood vessels that supply tissues lining the posterior cavity
photoreceptors
- these are receptors that are sensitive to light
- monitor a specific location on the retinal surface and process info to form visual images
- two types:
rods
cones
rods
photoreceptors responsible for vision in dim lighting
- do not detect different colors of light
- these are highly sensitive to light
- these are concentrated in the periphery
- 125 million rods
cones
photoreceptors responsible for sharp vision and color vision
- these require more intense light than rods
- these are concentrated at the macula
- 6 million cones
bipolar cells
- these are the cells that the rods and cones synapse with
- the retina is one of the few places in the body with bipolar cells
- these go on to synapse with the ganglion cells
ganglion cells
- these are what the bipolar cells synapse at
- these are the only cells in the retina wither an action potential is generated and then travels to the brain
- these are the first order neurons in the optic pathway
optic disc
this is where the axons of the ganglion cells converge
- this is a circular region just medial to the fovea centralis on the posterior aspect of the eye
- this is the origin of the optic nerve
- no photoreceptors are on the optic disc
- this creates the blind spot because light striking the area goes unnoticed since there are no photoreceptors
- involuntary eye movements fill in the missing information
fovea centralis
this is the center of the macula and this is the site with the highest concentration of cones
- this is the area that produces the sharpest vision
macula
this is where the visual image arrives after it passes through the cornea and lens
- this contains no rods
what muscle(s) do(es) CN VI innervate?
this is the abducens nerve
- innervates the lalteral rectus
what muscle(s) do(es) CN III innervate?
this is the oculomotor nerve - innervates: medial rectus inferior rectus superior rectus inferior oblique
what muscle(s) do(es) CN IV innervate?
- this is the trochlear nerve
- innervates the superior oblique
eyebrows
- these are along the superior orbital ridge of the frontal bone
- these prevent sweat from dripping into the eye and shade the eyes from sunlight
eyelashes
- these are the hairs on the margins of the eyelids
- these prevent large foreign objects from contacting the eyes
- these are highly innervated and can trigger the blink reflex to stop things from getting into the eye that are not supposed to
palpebrae
anatomical term for eyelids
Medial and lateral Canthi
these are the medial and lateral angles that the eyelids meet at
palpebral fissure
this is the opening between the eyelids
tarsal plates
- this is stiff plates of connective tissue that give the eyelids shape each time they move so they do not fold up in random ways
- they also serve as attachment sites for the muscles that help us close the eyes
tarsal glands
- these are modified sebaceous glands
- they secrete an oily substance
functions:
- lubricate the surface of the eye
- help keep tears in our eyes; prevent overflow
- prevent eyelids from sticking together
**these are important and the first function is very important because we do not want friction between the eyes and the eyelids each time we close our eyes and we do not want our eyelids to dry out
conjunctiva
transparent mucous membrane made of stratified squamous epithelium on the inner side of the eyelid and the inner layer attaches to the sclera
- there are two layers (the palpebral and bulbar) (these are continuous and there is a fold where it transitions)
- contains goblet cells
palpebral conjunctiva
- this lines the inner aspect of eyelid
bulbar conjunctiva
- this lines the sclera
- not the cornea, only the sclera
what is the importance of goblet cells in the conjunctiva
these secrete mucin and when it mixes with water it becomes mucous
what are the three places that act to lubricate and moisten the surface of the eye?
- the tarsal glands of the eyelid
- the goblet cells of the conjunctiva
- the lacrimal fluid (tears) from the eyes