anterior chamber

fluid-filled space between cornea and iris

aqueous humor

watery liquid secreted at the ciliary body that fills the

anterior and posterior chambers of the eye and provides
nourishment for the cornea, iris, and lens (humor = fluid)

canal of Schlemm

duct in anterior chamber that carriers filtered aqueous

humor to the viens and bloodstream

choroid

vascular layer beneath the sclera that provides nourishment

to outer portion of the retina

ciliary body

ring of muscle behind the peripheral iris that controls the

focusing shape of the lens

ciliary muscle

smooth muscle portion of the ciliary body, which contracts

to assist in near vision capability

ciliary processes

epithelial tissue folds on the inner surface of the ciliary body

that secrete aqueous humor

conjunctiva

mucous membrane that lines the eyelids and outer surface

of the eyeball

cornea

transparent, anterior part of the eyeball covering the iris,

pupil, and anterior chamber that functions to refract (bend)
light to focus a visual image

eyelid (palpebra)

movable protective fold that opens and closes, covering the

eye

fovea centralis

pinpoint depression in the center of the macula lutea that is

the site of sharpest vision (fovea = pit)

fundus (base)

interior surface of the eyeball including the retina, optic disc,

macula, and posterior pole (curvature at the back of the eye)

glands of Zeis

oil glands surronding the eyelashes

meibomian glands

oil glands located along the rim of the

eyelids

iris

colored circle; colored part of the eye located beind the

cornea that contracts and dilates to regulate light passing
through the pupil

lacrimal gland

gland located in the upper outer region above the eyeball

that secretes tears

lacrimal ducts

tubes that carry tears to the lacrimal sac

lacrimal sac

structure that collects tears before emptying into

nasolacrimal duct

lens

transparent structure behind the pupil that bends and

focuses light rays on the retina

lens capsule

capsule that encloses the lens

macula lutea (macula)

central region of the retina responsible for central vision;

yellow pigment provides its color (lutea = yellow)

nasolacrimal duct

passageway for tears from the lacrimal

sac into the nose

optic disc

exit site of retinal nerve fibers

optic nerve

nerve responsible for carrying impulses for the sense of sight

from the retina to the brain

posterior chamber

space between the back of the iris and the front of the
vitreous chamber filled with aqueous humor

pupil

black circular opening in the center of the iris through which

lights passes as it enters the eye

retina

innermost layer that perceives and transmits light to the

optic nerve

cones

cone-shaped cells within the retina that are color sensitive

and repond to bright light

rods

rod-shaped cells within the retina that respond to dim light

sclera

tough, fibrous, white outer coat extending from the cornea

to the optic nerve

trabecular meshwork

mesh-like structure in the anterior chamber that filters the

aqueous humor as it flows into the canal Schlemn

vitreous

jelly-like mass filing the inner chamber between the lens and
retina that gives bulk to the eye