Visual System Flashcards
Eye anatomy
In what situations are tears produced by the lacrimal gland? Define these.
basal- tears produced at a constant level,
even in the absence of irritation or stimulation
reflex- increased tear production,
in response to ocular irritation.
emotional responses
what is the control of a tear reflex i.e. a bug lands on eye
Afferent – cornea, cranial nerve V1 – ophthalmic trigeminal (to CNS)
Efferent – parasympathetic (to lacrimal gland)
Neurotransmitter - acetylcholine
Where is the lacrimal gland located?
The lacrimal gland is located within the orbit,
latero-superior to the globe.
what is the route of a tear from lacrimal gland to nasal cavity?
Tears produced by lacrimal gland
Drain through the two puncta, openings on medial lid margin
Flow through superior and inferior canaliculi
Gather in tear sac
Exit tear sac through tear duct into nasal cavity
what is the role of the tear film?
Maintains smooth cornea-air surface
Oxygen supply to Cornea – normal cornea has no blood vessels
Removal of debris (tear film and blinking)
Bactericide
what are the 3 layers of the tear film? Which layer forms the bulk of the tear film?
lipid outer layer, aqueous layer, mucinous layer on cornea surface
Aqueous layer forms bulk of tear film
Function of lipid layer, aqueous layer and mucionous layer of tear film?
What glands secrete the lipid layer?
The lipid layer on the top responsible for protecting the tear film from rapid evaporation. The lipid layer is secreted by the Meibomian Glands,
situated along the eyelid margins.
The Aqueous Tear Film Layer delivers oxygen and nutrient to the surrounding tissue. It contains factors against potentially harmful bacteria.
The bottom Mucinous Layer ensures that the tear film sticks to the eye surface. This renders the surface of the eye “wettable”. The mucin molecules act by binding water molecules, to the hydrophobic corneal epithelial cell surface.
what is the conjunctiva?
What does it cover?
thin, transparent tissue covering outer surface of the eye
It begins at the outer edge of the cornea, covers the visible part of the eye, and lines the inside of the eyelids
Is the conjunctiva vascularised?
Yes- It is nourished by tiny blood vessels that are nearly invisible to the naked eye
Antero-posterior diameter of the eye in adults?
24mm
what are the 3 tissue layers of the eyeball?
sclera- hard and opaque
choroid- pigmented and vascularised
retina- neurosensory tissue
what is the sclera?
What is its function?
What is the water content of the sclera?
the white of the eye
tough, opaque outer coat
serves as the eye’s protective outer coat.
high water content
what is the cornea?
What is its water content?
What is the function of the cornea?
transparent, dome shaped window covering front of eye
low water content
Powerful refracting surface, providing 2/3 of the eye’s focusing power.
what are the layers of the cornea?
1 – Epithelium
2 – Bowman’s membrane
3 – Stroma – its regularity contributes towards transparency
4- Descemet’s membrane
5- Endothelium – pumps fluid out of cornea and prevents corneal oedema
what is the uvea?
What are its three parts?
Vascular coat of eyeball and lies between the sclera and retina.
choroid, iris and ciliary body
what is the choroid?
Lies between the retina and sclera. It is composed of layers of blood vessels that nourish the back of the eye
What is the function of the iris? How is this achieved?
Controls light levels inside the eye
Embedded with tiny muscles that dilate (widen) and constrict (narrow) the pupil size (Round opening in the centre is the pupil)
what is the structure of the lens?
outer acellular capsule
regular inner elongated cell fibres
what is the function of the lens?
Transparency
Regular structure
Refractive Power
1/3 of the eye focusing power - higher refractive index than aqueous fluid and vitreous
Accommodation
Elasticity
What is a cataract?
Loss of transparency of the lens with age
what is the retina?
What is its function?
What is the function of the optic nerve?
thin layer of tissue lining the inner eye
Responsible for capturing the light rays that enter the eye
These light impulses are then sent to the brain for processing, via the optic nerve
Where does the optic nerve connect to the eye and what is the visible portion of the optic nerve called?
connects to the back of the eye near the macula
visible portion is called the optic disc
what is the blind spot and why is it a blind spot?
where the optic nerve meets the retina
there are no light sensitive cells
what is the macula?
Where is it located?
A small and highly sensitive part of the retina responsible for detailed central vision
Located roughly in the centre of the retina, temporal to the optic nerve
what is the centre of the macula called?
fovea
what is the role of the fovea?
Allows to appreciate detail and perform tasks which require central vision
Give examples of tasks that require central vision
Reading
Facial recognition
what is the fovea?
What concentrations of photosensory cells are found in the retina
most sensitive part of retina - centre of macula
highest concentration of cones, low concentration of rods
What is central vision?
What part of the retina is responsible for this and why?
Detail day vision, colour vision
fovea has the highest concentration of cone photoreceptors
How is foveal vision assessed and what would a loss of foveal vision lead to?
Assessed by visual acuity assessment
Loss of foveal vision – Poor visual acuity
what is peripheral vision?
shape, movement, navigation and night vision
how is peripheral vision tested?
WHat would a loss of peripheral vision lead to?
Assessed by visual field assessment
Extensive loss of visual field – unable to navigate in environment, patient may need white stick even with perfect visual acuity
what is the three cell layers of the retina?
outer - photoreceptors (1st order neuron)
middle - bipolar cells (2nd order)
inner - retinal ganglion cells (3rd order)
what is the function of retinal photoreceptors?
detection of light
what is the function of bipolar cells of the retina?
Local signal processing to improve contrast sensitivity, regulate sensitivity
what is the function of retinal ganglion cells of the retina?
transmission of signal from eye to brain
what are the classes of photoreceptors?
rods
cones
Structure, sensitivity and response speed of response of rods?
What are rods responsible for and how many rods are found in the retina
Longer outer segment with photo-sensitive pigment
100 times more sensitive to light than cones
Slow response to light
Responsible for night vision (Scotopic Vision)
120 million rods
Structure, sensitivity and response speed of cones
What are cones responsible for and how many cones are found in the retina?
shorter outer segment
Less sensitive to light, but faster response
Responsible for day light fine vision and colour vision (Photopic Vision)
6 million cones
Photoreceptor distribution
Rod photo-receptors are widely distributed all over the retina, with the highest density just outside the macula. (20- 40 degrees away from the fovea)
The density of rod photo-ceptors gently tails off towards the periphery. Rod photo-receptors are completely absent within the macula
Cone photo-receptors are distributed only within the macula.
which cones detect blue wavelengths?
s cones
which cones detect green light?
M cones
which cones detect red light?
L cones
Why do we experience yellow as a combination of red and green light biologically?
Yellow light has a wavelength between the peak sensitivity wavelengths of M-Cones and L-Cones.
Yellow light stimulates both M-cones and L-cones equally.
Biologically, we experience yellow light as a combination of green and red light.
Are colour vision deficiencies more common in men or in women?
In men
What causes colour vision deficiencies and what is this known as?
Colour Vision deficits can be caused by a shift in the photo-pigment peak sensitivity.
This is called Anomalous Trichromatism.
What is dichromatism?
What is monochromatism?
Give two examples for monochromatism
In Dichromatism, only two cone photo-pigment sub-types are present.
In Monochromatism, there is complete absence of colour vision.
This can be caused by Blue Cone Monochromatism,
with the presence of only blue L-cones.
Or by Rod Monochromatism,
in which there is a total absence of all cone photo-receptors.
How do blue cone monochromatism and rod monochromatism affect daylight visual acuity?
Patients with Blue Cone Monochromatism have normal day light visual acuity,
whereas Patients with Rod Monochromatism have no functional day vision.
what is the most common colour blindness?
Deuteranomaly (a.k.a. Daltonism)- not being able to perceive the colour red
what is achromatopsia?
full colour blindness
what is the ishihara test used for?
to detect colourblindness
what is the index of refraction (n) ?
ratio of the speed of light in vaccum (air) and speed of light in new medium