Visual System Flashcards
What are the three layers that comprise the eye?
Sclera, choroid, retina (from outermost to innermost)
What are the two fluid compartments of the eye?
Aqueous humous & vitrous humor
What is the function of the aqueous humor?
supplies the nutrients to surrounding structures (present in anterior chamber)
What is the function of the vitrous humor?
maintains the shape of the eye and supplies nutrients to surrounding structures (present in space between back of lens and retina)
What is the difference between the sclera and cornea?
Sclera is a white fibrous tissue that forms the outermost layer of the eye. It becomes the cornea at the front of the eye. The cornea is a transparent tissue that separates and protects the eye from external environment and allows light in
What is the choroid?
Capillary bed that nourishes the retinal cells
What is the ciliary body?
a ring of tissue that encircles the lens. Consists of muscular and vascular part
What does the ciliary muscle do?
Controls shape of lens. Connected to lens by zonule fibers
What do the ciliary processes do?
produce the aqueous humor in anterior chamber
What is the iris?
Coloured portion of the eye seen through the cornea. Contain 2 sets of muscles that contract and to adjust size of pupil
What does the lens do?
it refracts light rays coming into the eye and generates a focused image on the retina
What are accommodations of the lens and how do they happen?
changes in refractive power of lens to form a sharp image on the retina. The changes happen thanks to the contraction of the ciliary muscle
What happens to the lens during distant vision?
Lens becomes thin and flat. Less refractive power
What happens to the lens during near vision?
lens becomes thick and round. More refractive power
What is emmetropia?
Normal vision, proper accomodation
What is myopia?
the lens over accommodates (i.e. high refractive power), the image is focused in front of the retina. Hard to see distant objects. Corrected by concave (converging) eye glasses.
What is hyperopia?
the lens does not accommodate enough (i.e. weak refractive power), the image is focused beyond the retina. Hard to see a nearby objects. Corrected by convex (diverging) eye glasses.
What is the retina?
Innermost layer of eye. Considered part of nervous system. Contains light sensitive neurons. Converts visual info into electrical signal to transmit to brain
What are the photosensitive neurons?
Rods and cones
List the characteristics of Rods.
Rod shaped, 120 million, located in periphery, dim light (highly sensitive to light, night vision), low resolution, pigments: rhodopsin, type of cells: monochromic (absorbs white color), no color vision.