The Eye Terms

Question 1

Aqueous Humor

Answer 1

Watery fluid filling spaces between cornea and lens

Question 2

Choroid

Answer 2

Middle layer of eyeball; this layer provides blood supply for eye

Question 3

Cilia

Answer 3

Term for eyelashes that protect eye from foreign particles or for nasal hairs that help filter dust and bacteria out of inhaled air

Question 4

Ciliary Body

Answer 4

Intraocular eye muscles that change shape of the lens

Question 5

Cones

Answer 5

Sensory receptors of retina that are active in bright light and see in color

Question 6

Conjunctiva

Answer 6

Protective mucous membrane lining on underside of each eyelid and across anterior surface of each eyeball

Question 7

Cornea

Answer 7

Portion of sclera that is clear and transparent and allows light to enter interior of eye; also plays role in bending light rays

Question 8

Eyeball

Answer 8

Eye by itself, without any appendages such as eye muscles or tear ducts

Question 9

Eyelashes

Answer 9

Along upper and lower edges of eyelids; protect eye from foreign particles; also called ‘cilia.’

Question 10

Eyelids

Answer 10

Upper and lower fold of skin that provides protection from foreign particles, injury from sun and intense light, and trauma; both upper and lower edges of eyelids have small hairs or cilia; in addition, sebaceous or oil glands are located in eyelids which secrete lubricating oil

Question 11

Eye Muscles

Answer 11

There are six muscles that connect eyeball to orbit cavity; muscles allow for rotation of eyeball

Question 12

Fovea Centralis

Answer 12

Area of retina that has sharpest vision

Question 13

Iris

Answer 13

Colored portion of eye; can dilate or constrict to change size of pupil and control amount of light entering interior of eye

Question 14

Lacrimal Apparatus

Answer 14

Consists of lacrimal gland, lacrimal ducts, and nasolacrimal duct

Question 15

Lacrimal Ducts

Answer 15

Tear ducts located in inner corner of eye socket; collect tears and drain them into lacrimal sac

Question 16

Lacrimal Gland

Answer 16

Gland located in outer corner of each eyelid; washes anterior surface of eye with fluid called tears

Question 17

Lens

Answer 17

Transparent structure behind pupil and iris; functions to bend light rays so they land on retina

Question 18

Macula Lutea

Answer 18

Area of retina onto which straight ahead images are projected

Question 19

Mucous Membrane

Answer 19

Membrane that lines body passages that open directly to exterior of body, such as mouth and reproductive tract, and secretes thick substance, or mucus

Question 20

Nasal Cavity

Answer 20

Large cavity just behind external nose that receives outside air; covered with mucous membrane to cleanse air; nasal septum divides nasal cavity into left and right halves

Question 21

Nasolacrimal Duct

Answer 21

Duct that collects tears from inner corner of eye socket and drains them into nasal cavity

Question 22

Oblique Muscles

Answer 22

Oblique means slanted; two of eye muscles are oblique muscles

Question 23

Ophthalmology (Ophth)

Answer 23

Branch of medicine specializing in condition of eye

Question 24

Optic Disk

Answer 24

Area of retina associated with optic nerve; also called ‘blink spot.’

Question 25

Optic Nerve

Answer 25

Second cranial nerve that carries impulses from retinas to brain

Question 26

Pupil

Answer 26

Hole in center of iris; size of pupil is changed by iris dilating or constricting

Question 27

Rectus Muscles

Answer 27

Rectus means ‘straight’; four of eye muscles are rectus muscles

Question 28

Refracts

Answer 28

Bending of light rays as they enter eye

Question 29

Retina

Answer 29

Innermost layer of eye; contains visual receptors called rods and cones; rods and cones receive light impulses and transmit them to brain via optic nerve

Question 30

Retinal Blood Vessels

Answer 30

Blood vessels that supply oxygen to rods and cones of retina

Question 31

Rods

Answer 31

Sensory receptors of retina that are active in dim light and do not perceive color

Question 32

Sclera

Answer 32

Tough protective outer layer of eyeball; commonly referred to as ‘white of eye.’

Question 33

Sebaceous Glands

Answer 33

Also called ‘oil glands’; produce substance called sebum that lubricates skin surface

Question 34

Tears

Answer 34

Fluid that washes and lubricates anterior surface of eyeball

Question 35

Vitreous Humor

Answer 35

Transparent jelly-like substance inside eyeball