Topic 20: Special Senses Flashcards
what is an eye?
-3 layered sphere filled with fluid
what are the structural features of the eye?
-fibrous tunic
-vascular tunic
-nervous (sensory) tunic
-lens
-anterior segment
-posterior segment
what are the parts of the fibrous tunic?
sclera
-cornea
-conjunctiva
what are the characteristics of the sclera?
-white
-avascular CT
what are the characteristics of the cornea?
-transparent
-allows light to pass through
-superficial
-avascular CT
what is the purpose of the cornea being avascular?
-vessels are not in the way of light
what are the characteristics of the conjunctiva?
-covers the anterior sclera
-vascular mucous membrane
-creates bloodshot eyes when the vessels dilate
what are the parts of the vascular tunic?
-choroid (posterior)
-ciliary body (anterior)
-iris
-pupil
what is the choroid?
-contains melanin so that light does reflect back out of the eye
-highly vascular
-posterior
what is the ciliary body?
-ciliary muscle + cilliary processes
-focuses the len
what is the iris?
-coloured part of the eye
-what is the pupil?
-hole in the iris
what is the nervous (sensory) tunic?
-retina of the eye
what are the parts of the nervous (sensory) tunic?
-outer pigmented layer
-inner neural layer
-fovea centralis
-optic disc
what is the inner neural layer?
-3 layers of neurons
-photoreceptors
-bipolar cells
-ganglion cells (axons from optic nerve)
what are the 2 types of photoreceptors in the inner neural layer?
-rods = allow to see black + white
-cones = allow to see colour
what is the fovea centralis?
-where light is focused
-area of greatest visual resolution (sharpness)
-no rods, only cones
what is the optic disc?
-blind spot where blood vessels + optic nerve exit the eye
-no rods or cones