ANATOMY OF THE EYE

I. Electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic Radiation is energy in the form of waves that
radiates from the sun.
Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive peaks of
an electromagnetic wave.
The eyes are responsible for the detection of visible light, the
part of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths
ranging from about
400 to 700 nm.
II. Accessory structures of the eye
The accessory structures of the eye
A. Eyelids
B. Eyelashes
C. Eyebrows
D. Lacrimal Apparatus
E. Extrinsic Eye Muscles

include:

Eyelids or Palpebrae
FUNCTIONS:
a. Shade the eyes during sleep
b. Protect the eyes from
excessive light and foreign objects
c. Spread lubricating secretions over the eyeballs
The upper eyelid is more movable than the lower and
contains in its superior region the levator palpebrae
superioris muscle.
Palpebral fissure is the space between the upper and
lower eyelids that exposes the eyeball.
ANGLES:
a. Lateral commissure
is narrower and closer to the temporal
bone
b. Medial commissure
is broader and nearer the nasal bone
In the medial commissure is a small, reddish elevation, the lacrimal caruncle, which contains sebaceous
(oil) glands and sudoriferous (sweat) glands.
FROM
a.
b.
c.
d.

SUPERFICIAL TO DEEP, EACH EYELID CONSISTS OF:

Epidermis
Dermis
Subcutaneous tissue
Fibers of the orbicularis oculi muscle

e. Tarsal plate
f. Tarsal glands
g. Conjunctiva

h.
i. TARSAL PLATE is a thick fold of connective tissue that gives form and support to the eyelids.
j. MEIBOMIAN GLANDS are elongated modified sebaceous glands that secrete a fluid that helps keep
the eyelids from adhering to each other.
k.
l. CONJUNCTIVA is a thin, protective mucous membrane composed of
nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium with numerous goblet cells that
is supported by areolar connective tissue.
A. Palpebral conjunctiva lines the inner aspect of the eyelids.
B. Bulbar conjunctiva passes from the eyelids onto the surface of the eyeball,
where it covers the sclera (the white of the eye).
m.
n. Eyelashes and eyebrows
o. EYELASHES project from the border of each eyelid.
p.
Q. SEBACEOUS CILIARY GLANDS
r.
-sebaceous glands at the base of the hair follicles of the
eyelashes
s.
-release a lubricating fluid into the follicles.
t.
u.
EYEBROWS - arch transversely above the upper eyelids, help protect the eyeballs from foreign
objects, perspiration, and the direct rays of the sun.
v.
w. Lacrimal apparatus
x. -is a group of structures that produces
and drains lacrimal fluid or tears.
y.
Z. LACRIMAL GLANDS
aa. -each about the size and shape of an
almond
ab. -secrete lacrimal fluid, which drains into
612 excretory lacrimal ducts that
empty tears onto the surface of the
conjunctiva of the upper lid.
ac. -are supplied by parasympathetic fibers of the facial (VII) nerves.
ad. -The lacrimal fluid produced by these glands
is a watery solution containing salts, some mucus, and lysozyme, a protective bactericidal enzyme.
protects, cleans, lubricates, and moistens the eyeball.
ae. -Each gland produces about 1 mL of lacrimal fluid per day.
af.
ag. Extrinsic eye muscles
ah. The eyes sit in the bony depressions of the skull called the orbits.
ai.
aj. Six extrinsic eye muscles move each
eye:
1. Superior rectus
2. Inferior rectus
3. Lateral rectus
4. Medial rectus
5. Superior oblique
6. Inferior oblique
ak.

al.
am.
an.
ao. They are supplied by cranial
nerves III, IV, or VI.
ap.
aq. In general, the motor units in
these muscles are small.
ar.
as.
at.
au.III. Anatomy of the eyeball
av. The adult eyeball measures about 2.5 cm (1 in.) in
diameter.
aw.
ax. Of its total surface area, only the anterior one-sixth
is exposed; the remainder is recessed and
protected by the orbit, into which it fits.
ay.
az. Anatomically, the wall of the eyeball consists of
three layers:
ba.
(1) fibrous tunic
bb.
(2) vascular tunic
bc.
(3) retina
bd.
be.Fibrous Tunic
bf. -is the superficial layer of the eyeball.
bg. -is composed of the anterior cornea and
posterior sclera.
bh.
bi. CORNEA
bj. - is a transparent coat that covers the
colored iris.
bk. -Function:
bl.
Helps focus light onto the retina.
bm.
-Composition:
bn.
nonkeratinized stratified squamous
epithelium.
bo.
Middle coat= collagen fibers and
fibroblasts
bp.
Inner surface= simple squamous
epithelium.
bq.
br. SCLERA
bs. -the white of the eye
bt. - is a layer of dense connective tissue made up mostly of collagen fibers and fibroblasts.
bu. -covers the entire eyeball except the cornea.
bv. -Functions:
At the junction of the sclera and
a. gives shape to the eyeball
cornea is an opening known as the
b. protects its inner parts
scleral venous sinus (canal of
c. serves as a site of attachment for the extrinsic eye muscles.
Schlemm).
bw.

bx. Vascular tunic

by. -The vascular tunic or uvea is the middle
layer of the eyeball.
bz. -It is composed of three parts: choroid,
ciliary body, and iris.
ca.
cb.
cc.
cd.
ce. CHOROID
Highly vascularized
posterior portion of the vascular tunic,
lines most of the internal surface of the
sclera.
Provide nutrients to the posterior surface of the retina.
also contains melanocytes that produce the pigment melanin, which causes this layer to appear
dark brown in color.
cf.
Function of Melanin: Absorbs stray light rays, which prevents reflection and
scattering of light within the eyeball.
cg.
ch. CILIARY BODY
ci. -is the anterior portion of the choroid.
cj. -consists of ciliary processes and ciliary muscle.
ck.
ciliary processes -are protrusions or folds on the internal surface of
the ciliary body.
cl.
-They contain blood capillaries that secrete aqueous
humor.
cm.
-Extending from the ciliary process are zonular fibers
(suspensory ligaments) that attach to the lens.
cn.
ciliary muscle- is a circular band of smooth muscle.
co. -Contraction or relaxation of the ciliary muscle changes the
tightness of the zonular fibers, which alters the shape of the
lens, adapting it for near or far vision.
cp.
cq. IRIS
cr. -The iris ( rainbow), the colored portion of
the eyeball, is shaped like a flattened
donut.
cs. - It is suspended between the cornea and
the lens and is attached at its outer
margin to the ciliary processes.
ct. -It consists of melanocytes and circular
and radial smooth muscle fibers.
cu. -The amount of melanin in the iris
determines the eye color.
cv. *large amount of melanin= brown to black
cw. *melanin concentration is very low=blue
cx. *melanin concentration is moderate =green
cy.
cz. PUPIL

da. -Principal function: To regulate the amount of light entering the

eyeball through the pupil

db. -Autonomic reflexes regulate pupil diameter in response to

light levels.
dc. *When bright light stimulates the eye, parasympathetic
fibers of the oculomotor (III) nerve stimulate the circular
muscles or sphincter pupillae of the iris to contract, causing
decrease in the size of the pupil (constriction).
dd. *In dim light, sympathetic neurons stimulate the radial muscles or dilator pupillae of the iris to
contract, causing an increase in the pupils size (dilation).
de.
df. Retina
dg. -the third and inner layer of the eyeball
dh. -lines the posterior three-quarters of the eyeball
di. -beginning of the visual pathway
dj.
dk.
dl. -Layers of the retina: (inside-outside)
dm. (1) internal limiting membrane
dn. (2)nerve fiber layer, containing the ganglion cell axons passing to the
optic nerve
do. (3) ganglion cell layer
dp. (4) inner plexiform layer, containing the connections of the ganglion
cells with the amacrine and bipolar cells
dq. (5) inner nuclear layer of bipolar, amacrine, and horizontal cell bodies
dr. (6) outer plexiform layer, containing the connections of the bipolar and
horizontal cells with the photoreceptors
ds. (7) outer nuclear layer of photoreceptor cell nuclei
dt. (8) external limiting membrane
du. (9) photoreceptor layer of rod and cone inner and outer segments
dv. (10) retinal pigment epithelium/ pigmented layer
dw.
dx. -The optic disc is the site where the optic (II) nerve exits the eyeball.
dy. Bundled together with the optic nerve are the central retinal artery, a
branch of the ophthalmic artery, and the central retinal vein.
dz.
ea. -Photoreceptors are specialized cells that begin the process by which
light rays are ultimately converted to nerve impulses.
eb. Two types of photoreceptors:
1. Rods
Allow us to see in dim light, such as moonlight.
Because rods do not provide color vision, in dim
light we can see only black, white, and all shades of
gray in between.
A person who loses rod vision mainly has difficulty
seeing in dim light and thus should not drive at
night
2. Cones
Stimulated by bright lights.
Produce color vision
Three types of cones are present in the retina:
(1)
Blue cones, which are sensitive to blue light
(2)
Green cones, which are sensitive to green light
(3)
Red cones, which are sensitive to red light

 Color vision results from the stimulation of various combinations of these three types of
cones.
Most of our experiences are mediated by the cone system, the loss of which produces legal
blindness.
ec. *Each retina has about 6 million cones and 120 million rods.
ed.
ee. MACULA LUTEA
ef. - is in the exact center of the posterior portion of
the retina, at the visual axis of the eye.
EG.
eh. FOVEA CENTRALIS
ei. - a small depression in the center of the macula
lutea, contains only cones.
ej.
ek.
el.
em.
en.Lens
eo. -Located behind the pupil and iris, within the
cavity of the eyeball
ep. -Within the cells of the lens, proteins called
crystallins, arranged like the layers of an onion,
make up the refractive media of the lens.
eq. -Normally it is perfectly transparent and lacks
blood vessels.
er. -It is enclosed by a clear connective tissue
capsule and held in position by encircling zonular fibers, which attach to the ciliary processes.
es. -Function: helps focus images on the retina to facilitate clear vision.
et.
eu. Interior of the eyeball
ev.
ew.
ex.
ey.
ez.
fa.
fb.
fc.
fd.
fe.
ff.
fg.
fh.
fi.
fj.
fk. Summary of the structure of the eye
fl.
fm.

IV. Image formation

FN. 3 PROCESSES OF IMAGE FORMATION

(1)
(2)
(3)
fo.
fp.
fq.

Refraction or bending of light by the lens and cornea

Accommodation, the change in shape of the lens
Constriction or narrowing of the pupil
Refraction of light
-Concave lens
diverges light rays,
but the convex lens
converges light
rays.

rays

fr.
fs.
ft.
fu. Any object in front of the lens is, in
reality, a mosaic of point sources of
light.
fv.
fw. Each point source of light on the
object comes to a separate point
focus on the opposite side of the lens
in line with the lens center.
fx.
fy.
fz. Accommodation & Near point vision
ga. -The increase of curvature of the lens for near vision is called
accommodation.
gb. -The near point of vision is the minimum distance from the eye
that an object can be clearly focused with maximum
accommodation.
gc. *This distance is about 10 cm (4 in.) in a young adult.
gd.
ge. Constriction of the pupil
gf. -is a narrowing of the diameter of the hole through which light
enters the eye due to the contraction of the circular muscles of
the iris.
gg. -This autonomic reflex occurs simultaneously with
accommodation and prevents light rays from entering eye
through the periphery of the lens.
gh.
gi. V.Convergence
gj. -refers to this medial movement of the two eyeballs so that both are directed toward the object
being viewed, for example, tracking a pencil moving toward your eyes.
gk. -The nearer the object, the greater the degree of convergence needed to maintain binocular vision.
gl. -The coordinated action of the extrinsic eye muscles brings about convergence.
gm.
gn.
VI. Physiology of vision
GO.
gp. Light and Dark Adaptation
gq. -When you emerge from dark surroundings (say, a tunnel) into the sunshine, light adaptation occurs
your visual system adjusts in seconds to the brighter environment by decreasing its sensitivity.
gr. -On the other hand, when you enter a darkened room such as a theater, your visual system
undergoes dark adaptationits sensitivity increases slowly over many minutes.
gs. -The difference in the rates of bleaching and regeneration of the photopigments in the rods and
cones accounts for some (but not all) of the sensitivity changes during light and dark adaptation.

gt.
gu. Photopigments
gv. -The first step in visual transduction is absorption of light by a
photopigment, a colored protein that undergoes structural changes
when it absorbs light, in the outer segment of a photoreceptor.
gw. -Light absorption initiates the events that lead to the production of a
receptor potential. -The single type of photopigment in rods is
rhodopsin.
gx. Three different cone photopigments are present in the retina, one in
each of the three types of cones.
gy. -Color vision results from different colors of light selectively activating
the different cone photopigments.
gz.
ha.
hb. -All photopigments associated with vision contain two parts:
a glycoprotein known as opsin and
a derivative of vitamin A called retinal.
hc.
*Retinal is the light-absorbing part of all visual photopigments.
hd.
*In the human retina, there are four different opsins, three in the cones and
one in the rods (rhodopsin).
he.
hf. Role of Vitamin A for Formation of Rhodopsin
hg. Vitamin A
hh. -is present both in the cytoplasm of the rods and in the
pigment layer of the retina
hi. -is normally always available to form new retinal when
needed.
hj.
hk.

HL.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF NIGHT
BLINDNESS
hm.
hn.

HO.
HP.
HQ.
HR.
HS. REFERENCES:
ht. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology by Tortora & Derrickson, 13th Ed, Chap 17, pages 642-655
hu. Guyton & Hall Physiology, 11th Ed, Chapter 50, pages 613-616&629

hv. Vaughan & Asbury General Ophthalmology, 18th Ed, Chap 1

hw.
HX.PREPARED BY:
hy. Group 1
hz. ALTURA, Maria Luisa_gorgeous
ia. ATINAJA, Jean Marc
ib. DANGSI, Marciel
ic. DEPALOBOS, Don Jayric
id. ECHAVE, Mayene Alyssa
ie.
if.
ig.

ih.