The Eye Flashcards
What anchors the basal corneal epithelial cells to the Bowman layer.
Hemidesmosomes
What is the blood ocular barrier and where is it located?
prevents extravasation of intravascular contents into the eye. It consists of intercellular junctions of adjacent cells at various locations in the eye: the blood–aqueous barrier and the blood–retina barrier (inner and outer).
anteroposterior diameter of the eye
23-25mm
Average transverse diameter of the adult eye
24mm
What is the anterior chamber
space between iris and cornea
What is the posterior chamber
anatomical portion of the eye posterior to the iris and anterior to the lens and vitreous face
Average anterior chamber depth
3.11mm
Average volume of AC
220 microlitres
Average volume of posterior chamber
60 microlitres
Volume of vitreous cavity
5-6mls
Total volume of the average adult eye
6.5-7.0 mls
Layers of the cornea (outer to inner)
- epithelium
- Bowman layer
- stroma
- Descemet membrane
- endothelium
Refractive index of the cornea
1.376
Average radius of curvature of cornea
7.7mm
Power of the cornea
43.25 dioptres
Total power of the eye
58.60 dioptres
Cornea vertical diameter
11mm
Cornea horizontal diameter
12mm
Is the posterior surface of the cornea more curved than the anterior surface?
Yes
Is the central cornea thinner than the peripheral cornea?
Yes the central cornea is thinner (0.5 mm) than the peripheral cornea (1.0 mm)
Where is the cornea flatter?
The cornea flattens in the periphery, with more extensive flattening nasally and superiorly than temporally and inferiorly.
What epithelium covers the corneal epithelium?
The anterior surface of the cornea is covered by a lipophilic, nonkeratinized, stratified squamous epithelium that is composed of 4–6 cell layers and is typically 40–50 μm thick
Density of corneal epithelial cells?
6000 cells/mm squared
How thick is the Bowman layer/membrane?
8-15 microns thick. Unlike the Descemet membrane, it is not restored after injury but is replaced by scar tissue.
What percentage thickness of the cornea is the stroma
90%. It is composed of collagen-producing keratocytes, ground substance, and collagen lamellae.
What collagen type is predominantly found in the stroma?
Type 1
III, IV, V, VI, XII, and XIV
What do the keratocytes resemble ultrastructurally?
fibroblasts
How many keratocytes are found in the cornea?
The cornea has approximately 2.4 million keratocytes, which occupy about 5% of the stromal volume; the density is higher anteriorly (1058 cells/mm2) than posteriorly (771 cells/mm2). Keratocytes are highly active cells rich in mitochondria, rough endo- plasmic reticula, and Golgi apparatus
How thick is the Descemet membrane?
At birth, the Descemet membrane is 3–4 μm thick, increasing to 10–12 μm at adulthood. It is a true basement membrane, and its thickness increases with age.
It is composed of an anterior banded zone that develops in utero and a posterior nonbanded zone that is laid down by the corneal endothelium throughout life
Which collagen is Descemet membrane rich in?
Descemet membrane is rich in type IV collagen.
What are Hassal Henle Warts?
Peripheral excrescences of the Descemet membrane, known as Hassall-Henle warts, are common, especially among elderly people. Central excrescences (corneal guttae) also appear with increasing age.
Which embryological layer is corneal endothelium derived from?
Neural crest cells
Corneal endothelial cell density?
In young adult eyes, approximately 500,000 cells are present, at a density of about 3000/mm centrally and up to 8000/mm2 peripherally.
What is the corneal endothelial cell mitotic capability?
Endothelial cell dysfunction and loss—through surgical injury, inflammation, or dis- ease (eg, Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy)—may cause endothelial decompensation, stromal edema, and vision loss. Because endothelial mitosis is limited in humans, destruction of cells causes cell density to decrease and residual cells to spread and enlarge
What structures are found at the limbus
- conjunctiva and limbal palisades of Vogt, which house the corneal stem cells
- episclera
- junction of corneoscleral stroma
- aqueous outflow apparatus (collector channel)
What is the surgical limbus
The surgical limbus, an external landmark for incisions in cataract and glaucoma surgery, is sometimes referred to as the gray or blue zone. Its blue-gray appearance is due to the scattering of light through the oblique interface between cornea and sclera, which
According to pathologists, what are the limbal landmarks?
Pathologists consider the posterior limit of the limbus to be formed by another plane perpendicular to the surface of the eye, approximately 1.5 mm posterior to the termination of the Bowman layer in the horizontal meridian and 2.0 mm posterior in the vertical meridian, where there is greater scleral overlap
Where is the sclera thinnest?
The sclera is thinnest (0.3 mm) just behind the insertions of the rectus muscles
Where is the sclera thickest?
thickest (1.0 mm) at the posterior pole around the optic nerve head.
What are the most common sites of scleral rupture from blunt trauma?
- in the superonasal quadrant, near the limbus
- in a circumferential arc parallel to the corneal limbus opposite the site of
impact - behind the insertion of the rectus muscles
Is the sclera avascular?
Yes. The sclera, like the cornea, is essentially avascular except for the vessels of the intra- scleral vascular plexus, located just posterior to the limbus, and the episcleral vessels. The episcleral vessels have superficial and deep plexuses
In episcleritis which plexus is involved?
The superficial plexus runs beneath the Tenon capsule in a radial pattern; in episcleritis, it is this vascular plexus that is involved
In scleritis which plexus is involved?
The deep episcleral plexus rests on the surface of the sclera and is the layer involved in scleritis.
Which emissaria (channels) penetrate the sclera?
- anterior emissaria: penetration of the anterior ciliary arteries anterior to the rectus muscle insertions
- middle emissaria: exit of vortex veins
- posterior emissaria: lamina cribrosa, penetration of the short and long posterior
ciliary vessels and ciliary nerves
Through which emissaria does malignant melanoma of the choroid spread extraocularly?
Extraocular extension of malignant melanoma of the choroid occurs by way of the middle emissaria.
What are Axenfield loops?
Branches of the ciliary nerves that supply the cornea sometimes leave the sclera to form loops posterior to the nasal and temporal limbus. These nerve loops, called Axenfeld loops, are sometimes pigmented and, consequently, have been mistaken for uveal tissue or malignant melanoma
What structures do the anterior chamber angle contain?
- Schwalbe line
- Schlemm canal and trabecular meshwork (also see the section Trabecular
Meshwork) - scleral spur
- anterior border of the ciliary body (where its longitudinal fibers insert into the
scleral spur) - peripheral iris
What 3 structures make up the trabecular meshwork?
Layers of the trabecular meshwork:
uveal,
corneoscleral,
juxtacanalicular.
The point of highest resistance to outflow is at the juxtacanalicular layer. The outlet channel traverses the limbus and drains into an aqueous vein
What is Schwalbe line the peripheral termination of?
Descemet membrane
Which ciliary muscle does the scleral spur receive the insertion of?
longitudinal ciliary muscle, contraction of which opens up the trabecular spaces.
Do trabecular meshwork layer cells have contractile properties?
Yes which may influence outflow resistance.
They also have phagocytic properties.
Do trabecular meshwork layer cells have contractile properties?
Yes which may influence outflow resistance.
They also have phagocytic properties
Why is the resistance to drainage of aqueous highest in the juxtacannalicular meshwork?
partly because the pathway is narrow and tortuous and partly because of the resistance offered by extracellular proteoglycans and glycoproteins.
Properties of Schlemm canal
A circular tube that closely resembles a lymphatic vessel
Formed by a continuous monolayer of nonfenestrated endothelium and a thin connective tissue wall
Basement membrane of the endothelium is poorly defined
Lateral walls of the endothelial cells are joined by tight junctions
(MIGS), a microstent is implanted in the Schlemm canal to bypass the trabecular meshwork, the point of greatest outflow resistance, thereby increasing aqueous outflow.
How many collector channels arose from Schlemm canal?
Approximately 25–30 collector channels arise from the Schlemm canal and drain into the deep and midscleral venous plexuses
What does the uvea comprise of?
- iris
- ciliary body (located in the anterior uvea)
- choroid (located in the posterior uvea)
Where is the uvea most firmly attached to the sclera at?
- scleral spur
- exit points of the vortex veins
- optic nerve
These attachments account for the characteristic anterior dome-shaped choroidal detachment.
Classification of uveitis according to SUN criteria?
- anterior: anterior chamber
- intermediate: vitreous
- posterior: choroid (primary or secondary from the retina)
- panuveitis: anterior chamber, vitreous, and retina or choroid