The Eye Flashcards
The eyelid
Description: fold of skin which covers the eye
Purpose: cleaning and protecting the eye
Cornea
Description: transparent covering of the eye
Purpose: protecting the eye; helping coverage (blend and join) light rays that enter the eye
Sclera
Description: white part of the eye made of tough collagen fibres
Purpose: providing protection and support
Retina
Description: layer of light sensitive cells (photoreceptors) at the back of the eye
Purpose: detecting light rays that are focused by the cornea and lens
Choroid
Description: layer of blood vessels with a black pigment
Purpose: nourishing the eye and absorbing light
Iris
Description: a ring of muscle around the pupil, provides the eye colour
Purpose: controlling the amount of light that enters the eye
Pupil
Description: hole in the middle of the eye
Purpose: allowing light to enter the eye
Lens
Description: transparent, flexible and can change shape due to the ciliary muscles
Purpose: focusing light onto the retina and focusing on objects
Ciliary body
Description: attached to the underside of the lens
Purpose: producing aqueous humour and helps with focusing by altering the shape of the lens
Vitreous humour
Description: located behind the lens
Purpose: giving the eyeball it’s shape
Aqueous humour
Description: found behind the cornea
Purpose: helping to keep its rounded shape; provides nutrients to the cornea and lens
Lateral rectus muscle
Description: found on the lateral side of the eye
Purpose: helping orientate the pupil away from the centre of the body
Medial rectus muscle
Description: found on the medial side of the eye
Purpose: helping orientate the pupil towards the centre of the body
Fovea
Description: spot located in the macula, which has a high density of cone cells
Purpose: giving Sharp central vision; light is focused onto this spot by the lens
Optic disc
Description: blind spots where there are no photoreceptors
Purpose: where the optic disc leaves the eye