The Eye Histology

The eye
composed of three tunics
A fibrous tunic, forming the tough outer coat of
the eye / corneo-scleral layer
A vascular tunic, the pigmented and vascular
middle coat / uveal layer
A neural tunic, the retina, composing the
innermost coat / retinal layer
Tunica Fibrosa
Composed of the sclera and the cornea.
Sclera
Opaque
composed of type I collagen fibers interlaced with
elastic fibers
Cornea
transparent bulging anterior
composed of five histologically distinct layers:
Corneal epithelium
Bowman's membrane
Stroma
Descemet's membrane
Corneal endothelium
Cornea
corneal epithelium
continuation of the conjunctiva
stratified, squamous, nonkeratinized epithelium
five to seven layers of cells
Bowman's membrane
Stroma/ substantia propria
the thickest layer of the cornea
collagenous connective tissue
At the limbus scleral sulcus trabecular meshwork
The canal of Schlemm
Descemet's membrane
corneal endothelium
simple squamous epithelium
Tunica Vasculosa
composed of three parts:
the choroid,
the pigmented posterior portion of the middle vascular tunic, is
loosely attached to the sclera and separated from the retina by
Bruch's membrane
Melanocytelayer
Choriocapillarylayer
Glassy (Bruchs) membrane
the ciliary body,
wedge-shaped portion of the choroid located in the lumen of the
orb between the iris and the vitreous body and projecting toward
the lens
ciliary processes
the iris
anterior extension of the choroid, is a contractile diaphragm that
controls the pupillary aperture
 Lens
the transparent biconvex disk
focuses light rays on the retina
Vitreous Body
transparent, refractile gel that fills the cavity of
the eye (vitreous cavity) behind the lens. It is
composed mostly (99%) of water
Retina (Neural Tunic)
composed of 10 layers,
possesses specialized
receptors, called rods and
cones, that are responsible for
photoreception
1. Pigment epithelium
2. Layer of rods and cones
3. External (outer) limiting
membrane
4. Outer nuclear layer
5. Outer plexiform layer
6. Inner nuclear layer
7. Inner plexiform layer
8. Ganglion cell layer
9. Optic nerve fiber layer
10. Inner limiting membrane.
Optic nerve
Fovea
Accessory Structures of the Eye
Conjunctiva
Eyelids
Eyelids
 .....