Cornea and ciliary body
Learning objectives
After completing this study unit you will be able to:
- Learn about the structure of the cornea and ciliary body.
- Appreciate their relation to other ocular structures.
- Understand how their morphology has a determining role in their function.
Browse atlas
The cornea is a transparent circular layer that covers the pupil, iris and anterior chamber of the eye. Histologically, it is composed of proteins and cells organized into 5 layers, ranging from superficial to deep: stratified corneal epithelium, Bowman's membrane, proper substance (corneal stroma), Descemet's membrane and corneal endothelium.
The ciliary body forms a complete ring around the iris. In cross section, the ciliary body is triangular in shape. The ciliary body is made up of 3 parts: ciliary epithelium, ciliary stroma and ciliary muscle.
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/cornea-6/bqqvy8KKJJkEX5q3UtSjuA_Cornea.png "Cornea; Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ciliary-body-5/ezlN7aqkzwc1pwm0Bj1uQ_Ciliary_body.png "Ciliary body (Corpus ciliare); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lens-8/yqSyWqO0ytazzcusiLKPKQ_Lens.png "Lens; Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/iris-7/yWfmf45SAatgIODMhLw5ZA_Iris.png "Iris; Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ciliary-muscle-1/RFXId6UI6wHZhFQpN2SVA_Ciliary_muscle.png "Ciliary muscle (Musculus ciliaris); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ciliary-process-2/dIO8MZwcvlUplGNZPUIIg_Ciliary_processes.png "Ciliary processes (Processus ciliares); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/stroma-of-the-iris/MCT0JC4dvjCxIIvcuakaUg_Stroma_of_iris.png "Stroma of the iris; Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/posterior-chamber-of-eyeball-1/R5lQBwEsC1fXljaPRkRg0Q_Posterior_chamber_of_eye.png "Posterior chamber of eyeball (Camera posterior bulbi oculi); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/anterior-chamber-5/d7LAxKaIchfYy9qtYIV2Q_Anterior_chamber_of_eye.png "Anterior chamber of eyeball (Camera anterior bulbi oculi); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/sphincter-muscle-of-the-iris/3MCMoliFQC1UgUfeph8SA_Sphincter_pupillae_muscle_of_Iris.png "Sphincter pupillae muscle of iris (Musculus sphincter pupillae iridis); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/dilator-muscle-of-the-iris/KpnN81tfvbLLJDiRQXzhQ_Dilator_pupillae_muscle_of_Iris.png "Dilator pupillae muscle of iris (Musculus dilatator pupillae iridis); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/descemets-membrane-1/zM9xdqAYGctqOnf0uF6dQ_Descemet_s_membrane.png "Posterior limiting membrane of cornea (Lamina limitans posterior corneae); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/corneal-stroma-1/0xq6l8w5CHwwWnoOvkODA_Corneal_stroma.png "Corneal stroma (Stroma corneae); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/corneal-surface-epithelium-1/e0OSlmIS5UaEVlItQSVNtA_Corneal_epithelium.png "Corneal surface epithelium; Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/corneal-endothelium-1/rMGWJOIsXzLkySdCtcVw_Corneal_endothelium.png "Corneal endothelium; Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/bowmans-layer-1/wfoordKAKJfvmRzswRPiQ_Bowman_s_membrane.png "Anterior limiting membrane of cornea (Lamina limitans anterior corneae); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/retinal-pigmented-epithelium-1/7gslhDRwob6JVhmk9x3Wg_Retinal_pigmented_epithelium.png "Retinal pigmented epithelium; Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/iris-pigment-epithelium/i07wHiF5hI8lmgbNFZ9MBg_Iris_pigment_epithelium.png "Pigmented epithelium of iris (Epithelium pigmentosum iridis); Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/retinal-non-pigmented-epithelium/DjpLlZfV79bYNxhagJw40Q_Surface_non-pigmented_epithelial_layer.png "Retinal non-pigmented epithelium; Image:"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/keratocyte-nuclei/4MXHunIArGQfw1CcsIdVmQ_Keratocyte_nuclei.png "Keratocyte nuclei; Image:"){kind=logo}
Take a quiz
Now that you have reviewed the histological slides of the cornea and ciliary body, take the quiz below to test your knowledge.
Well done!
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