the human eye Flashcards
how is the eyeball attached to the eye socket?
via rectus muscles
parts of the eye
hint: there are 13
- conjunctiva
- cornea
- sclera
- choroid
- retina
- optic nerve
- iris
- pupil
- lens
- suspensory ligament
- ciliary body
- vitreous humour
- aqueous humor
3,4,5 are also known as wall of the eye
structure and function of the conjunctiva
- thin , transparent membrane (on surface of cornea)
- protects cornea against friction
- keeps eyeball moist
structure and function of cornea
- part of sclera
- small bulge at front of eye
- transparent
- reflects the most light into pupil
structure and function of sclera
- tough, white outer layer
- protects eyeball against mechanical injury
structure and function of choroid
- has blood vessels that supply the retina with oxygen and nutrients
- black, prevents internal reflection of light
structure and function of retina
- innermost layer of eyeball which contain photoreceptors (rods and cones) that detect stimuli
- has the most sensory receptors in body
structure and function of optic nerve
transmits nerve impulses from photoreceptors to brain
structure and function of iris
- part of choroid (behind cornea)
- controls size of pupil, hence controls amount of light that enters eye
- 2 involuntary muscles : circular and radial
- contains pigment which gives the eye its color
structure and function of pupil
- hole in the centre of iris that allows light to enter eye
structure and function of lens
- transparent, biconvex
- elastic so it can change shape and thickness to refract light on retina
structure and function of suspensory ligaments
- attaches lens to ciliary body to hold it in position
structure and function of ciliary body
- (protruding parts attached to back of iris)
- supports lens
- contains muscles which control curvation of lens
structure and function of vitreous humor
- transparent, jelly-like substance (found in main part of eyeball)
- supports the lens
- refracts light rays onto retina and keeps eyeball firm
structure and function of aqueous humor
- transparent and watery fluid (found at front of eyeball)
- refracts light rays into pupil and keeps eyeball firm
- mantains shape of the anterior chamber (front) of the eyeball
what is the fovea?
- part of retina that is most sensitive to light (dent, above of optic nerve)
- images are usually focused here
- contains only densely packed cones
what is contained in the other parts of the retina
density of rods > density of cones
what is the blind spot?
- found immediately over the optic nerve
- no photoreceptor cells, hence no vision
specialty of rods
- sensitive to low light intensity
-
blurry images in shades of gray
(provides monochrome vision in dim light)
specialty of cones
- sensitive to high light intensity
-
red, blue, green cones responsible for color vision
(provides acute (sharp) color vision in bright light)
image formed on the retina is..?
hint : 3
- inverted (upside down)
- reversed (back to front)
- diminshed (small)
what is pupil reflex
an immediate change to the diameter of the pupil, in response to the intensity of light that falls on photoreceptors in the retina, without consious control
how does the pupil adjust itself in bright light?
- circular muscles of the iris contact
- radial muscles of the iris relax
- these reduce pupil size (pupil CONSTRICTS), thus reducing amount of light entering the eye
- which prevents damage to rods and cones
like closing a window when the sky is sunny
how does the pupil adjust itself in dim light?
- circular muscles of the iris relax
- radial muscles of the iris contract
- these enlarge pupil size (pupil DILATES), thus allowing as much light as possible to enter the eye
- let us see more clearly
like opening a window when the sky is dark
what is focusing / accomodation?
adjustments of lens of the eye so that clear images of objects at different distances are formed on the retina
focusing on distant object
- light reflected off object is parallel when it reaches eye
- cornea refracts light rays
- circular ciliary muscle relaxes
- suspensory ligament taut
- lens pulled out thin
- light focused on retina
focusing on near object
- light reflected off object is diverging when it reaches eye
- cornea refracts light rays
- circular ciliary muscle contracted
- suspensory ligament slack
- lens more convex
- light focused on retina