THE SENSORY ORGANS

Receptors ---- receive the stimulation and convert

into nerve impulse

Accessory Organs ----help ,protect ,move

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 THE SENSORY ORGANS

CHAPTER 12 THE VISUAL ORGAN

The Eyeball

Accessory Organs of the Eye

Blood Vessels and Nerves of the Eye

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The shape of eyeball Ocular axis
Optic axis
The central points of the
anterior and posterior
surfaces of the eyeball are
known as the anterior and
posterior poles, the line
joining the two poles is the
ocular axis. An imaginary
line encircling the eyeball,
midway between the anterior
and posterior poles, is the
equator. Of more importance
is the optic axis, it joins the
center of the pupil to the
fovea centralis of the retina.

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 The structure of eyeball
Wall of eyeball

1. Fibrous tunic
Cornea
the anterior one-
sixth of the fibrous
coat
Being transparent ，
non-vascular ，
numerous sensory
nerve terminals are
distributed
Sclera
it forms the
posterior five-sixth of
the outer coat of the
eyeball . Being white
and opaque.

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 Sinus venosus
sclerae
The deep part of
the sclerocorneal
junction presents
a circular canal
known as the
sinus venosus
sclerae, which
drains the
aqueous humor.

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2. Vascular tunic
iris
pupil
eye-chamber
anterior chamber ,
posterior chamber,
sphincter pupillae
dilator pupillae

Anterior chamber

Posterior chamber

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 ciliary body
lies at the inner
surface of the junction
between the cornea
and sclera, containing
ciliary muscle. The
lens is attached to the
ciliary body by ciliary
zonule. The ciliary
body secretes the
aqueous humor.

choroid

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3. Inner tunic (retina)
two layers ：
outer pigment epithelium layer
inner neural layer
ciliary part
blind part
iridial part
choroid part — optic part
macula lutea (yellow spot): near
the center of the posterior part
of the retina, there is an oval
yellowish area, it shows a
central depression termed the
fovea centralis, where visual
acuity is highest.
Optic disc: about 3.5mm to the
nasal side of the macula lutea,
the optic nerve pierces the
retina and forms the optic disc.
It is insensitive to light, and
termed “blind spot”.
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The neural layer of the retina is composed of three layers of cells ：
•outmost layer cone and rod cell
•the middle layer bipolar cells ，connect the rods and cones to the ganglion
cells.
•the innermost layer: ganglion cells

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Contents of the eyeball
Which include the aqueous humor, the vitreous body and the lens. They are all
translucent and avascular, with the cornea altogether form the refractive
media.
The cycle of aqueous humor
ciliary body produces aqueous humor →the posterior chamber → pupil→
the anterior chamber →iridocorneal angle→sinus venous
sclerae→ophthalmic veins

Iris Cornea
Pupil

Anterior chamber

Posterior chamber

Lens

Iridocorneal angle
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Lens
Lies between the iris and the
vitreous body. It is transparent and
elastic, biconvex body lacking
vessels and nerves, and the
convexity of its anterior surface is
less than that of its posterior surface.
The lens is closely surrounded by
lens capsule, which is connected by
the suspensory ligament (the ciliary
zonule) to the ciliary body. The
shape of the lens is maintained by
the tension of the suspensory
ligament.

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 During near vision, the ciliary
muscle contracts, pulling the ciliary body
anteriorly. This action relaxes the
suspensory ligament, and allows the
elasticity of the lens to increase its
convexity, thus shortening the focal length
and bringing near objects into sharp focus
on the retina. While during far vision, the
condition is reversed. The lens becomes
increasingly harder, and decrease of its
elasticity with age, which results in
decrease of dioptric range, thus focusing
on near objects becomes progressively
more difficult. This condition is known as
presbyopia. The lens may also becomes
opaque in the aged, this condition is
termed senile cataract.
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Vitreous body
It is covered by vitreous
capsule. It fills the space
between the lens and the
retina. In addition to the
refracting role, the
vitreous body plays the
supporting role for the
retina.

Vitreous body

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Myopia may occur when
the diopter of the
refracting apparatus is too
high, or the axis bulb is too
long; on the contrary, the
hyperopia may occur if the
axis is too short, or the
diopter is too low.
Myopia

Hyperopia
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 Accessory Organs of the Eye
include the eyelids, conjunctiva, lacrimal apparatus, extraocular muscles
and the fasciae within orbit Those structures either protect the eyeball or
enable it movement

Eyelids
Skin, subcutaneous
areolar tissue,
orbicularis oculi,
tarsus, and
conjunctiva.

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 conjunctiva
a transparent mucous membrane, which covers the inner surface of the
eyelids as the palpebral conjunctiva, and folds back over the anterior
surface of the eyeball as the bulbar conjunctiva.
palpebral conjunctiva
bulbar conjunctiva
conjunctival fornices

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 The lacrimal apparatus

Lacrimal gland produces the lacrimal fluid

superior conjunctival fornix

Lacrimal punctum

lacrimal ductules

Lacrimal sac

Nasolacrimal duct

inferior nasal meatus

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extraocular muscles
superior rectus turns the eyeball superomedially
inferior rectus turns the eyeball inferomedially.
lateral rectus turns the eyeball outward
medial rectus turns the eyeball inward.

superior obliquus— turns the anterior pole of the eyeball inferolaterally

inferior obliquus— turns the eyeball superiorly and somewhat laterally
levator palpebrae superioris — elevate the upper eyelid

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 The connective tissue in the orbit
adipose body of orbit
fills the space around the structures within the orbit, and plays a role of
supporting and protection for those organs .

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 Blood Vessels and Nerves of the Eye

Arteries of the eye ------ophthalmic artery

Central artery of retina

short posterior ciliary arteries
（choroidarteries. ）
long posterior ciliary arteries
（iridial arteries ）
anterior ciliary arteries

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 veins of the eye
central vein of retina
vorticose veins
anterior ciliary veins

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 The nerves of the eye

optic nerve
is about 5cm in length, unites the optic chiasma and the eyeball. This nerve is
slightly longer than the distance it travels; thus it permits free movement of the
eyeball.
cranial nerves
which innervate the extraocular muscles, include the oculomotor nerve,
trochlear nerve, and abducent nerve.
ophthalmic nerve
is responsible for the somatic sensation of the structures in the orbit.
sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves
distributed in the glands and the wall of blood vessels located within the orbit.

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