Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation
Micro B – Histology of Special Senses
Dennis Ivan Bravo M.D.
I. Histology of the Eyes
Eyes
- Highly photosensitive organs for analyzing the Form, Intensity
and Color of light reflected from objects
- Provides sense of sight
- Protected within the Orbits of the Skull
- Externally, it is made up of:
 Tough, Fibrous Globe (Maintains its overall shape)
- Internally, it contains the following:
 Transparent Tissues (for Refraction of light to focus image)
 Layer of Photosensitive Cells
 System of Neurons (Collect, Process & Transmit visual
information to the brain)
A. Layers of the Eye
1. Fibrous Layer or Corneoscleral Coat
- Outermost Coat
- Includes the Posterior Cornea and Anterior Sclera
- Joined at the Corneoscleral Limbus
a. Sclera
- Fibrous, External Layer of the Eyeball
- Protects the Delicate Internal Structures
- Provides Sites for Muscle Insertion
- With an average thickness of 0.5mm,
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- Posteriorly, it thickens to approximately 1mm and joins the
Epinerium covering the Optic Nerve
- Consists of Dense Irregular Connective Tissue
- With Flat Bundles of Type 1 collagen fibers parallel to the
organ surface but inserting in different directions
- Microvasculature is present in the outer surface
- Continues anteriorly to become the cornea
b. Cornea
- Anterior 1/6 of the eye
- Transparent and completely avascular
- Refracts(bends) incoming light
- Protects anterior surface of the eyes
- Consist of 5 layers: (ABCDE)
 Anterior Corneal Epithelium
- Stratified Squamous, Non-Keratinized Corneal
Epithelium
- 5-6 cells thick
- Comprises of 10% of the Corneal Thickness
 Bowman’s Membrane
- An anterior limiting membrane or Basement
Membrane
- Contributes to the Stability and Strength of the Cornea
 Corneal Stroma or the Substancia Propria
- 90% of cornea’s thickness
- Consist of Parallel bundles of Collagen bundles
aligned at approximately right angles
- Made of 60 layers of long type I collagen fibers
arranged in a precise orthogonal array and
alternating with flattened cells called keratocytes
 Descement’s Membrane
- A posterior limting membrane
 Posterior Corneal Endothelium
- Inner Simple Squamous Endothelium
6th layer: Dua’s membrane
- Located somewhere between corneal stroma & descement’s
membrane, very thin (15 micrometers); under traditional microscope it
cannot be seen; can only be visualized with difficulty using an electron
microscope , it is impermeable to air and was found out when they
injected air bubbles to different layers of the retina and it cannot pass
through the dua’s layer
Layers of the Cornea
Corneoscleral Junction
- Where transparent corneal stroma merges with opaque
sclera
- Contains perforations known as Scleral Venous Sinus or Canal
of Schlemm (drain the aqueous humor)

2. Uvea or Vascular Layer
- Consist of three parts (Anteriorv to Posterior)
a. Choriod
- Located posterior 2/3 of the eye
- Consist of Loose, well vascularized connective tissue
- Contains numerous Melanocytes
- Has dark brown color due to melanin pigments which help
reduce glare within the eye
- Can be divided into 2 sublayers:
 Suprachoroidal Lamina
- Superficial layer with prominence of Melanocytes
 Choroido- Capillary Lamina
- Inner vascular region
- Portion close to the Retina (has a lot of blood vessels)
- Important for nutrition of the outer retinal
- Bruch’s layer
- Thin membrane that separates choroid & retina
- Composed of Collagen and elastic fibers
- Surrounds adjacent microvasculature and basal lamina
of retina’s pigmented layer
b. Ciliary Body
- Formed by thickening of Uvea anteriorly
- Lies posterior to the Limbus
- Has outward finger-like projections anteriorly called
Ciliary process that produces the aqueous humor
- Anatomical significance: it is here where the lens are
attached via the zonular ligament (suspensory ligaments of
the lens)
- Ciliary body continues posteriorly until it merges with the
retina at Ora Serrata
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c. Iris
- Extends over the anterior surface of the lens from the
anterior border of the ciliary body
- Gives color to the eye
- Not lined by any surface epithelium so its nude
- Consists of 5 layers:
 Discontinuous Layer of Fibroblasts and Melanocytes
- Most anterior layer; no covering or epithelium
 Anterior Avascular Anterior Stromal sheet
- Lamella
 Vascular layer of Loose Connective Tissue
- Bulk or thickest layer of iris
 The posterior membrane with 2 groups of muscles:
- Circular Sphincter Pupillae
- Radial Dilator Pupillae muscles
 Double layer of Pigmented epithelium
- Innermost layer
- Determines the color of the iris
3. Retina
- Inner most that receives light
- Develops with two fundamental sublayers from embryonic
Optic Cup
 Outer Pigment Epithelium
- Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
- Attached to Bruch’s Membrane and Choroidal Capillary
Lamina of Choroid
- Consisting of Cuboidal Melanin-containing cells
 Inner Neural Retina (receives light)
- Thick and Stratified with numerous photoreceptors
- Extends anteriorly as far as the Ora Serrata
- Continues as part of Dual Cubiodal Epithelium
- Lines the Ciliary body and Posterior Iris
Layers of the Retina
Between the vitreous body (VB) and the choroid (C) the Retina
can usually be seen to consist of nine neural layers and a
pigmented layer
Following the Path of the Light, these are (inner to outer layer): B. Chambers of the Eyes
 Inner limiting layer (ILL)
- composed of Basal Lamina of Muller Cells
 Nerve fiber layer (NFL)
- Containing the ganglionic cell traveling to the Brain
- Axons converge at the optic disc & form the optic nerve
 Ganglionic layer (GL)
- Containing cell bodies of the Ganglion cells and thicker
near the retina’s center than its periphery
 Inner Plexiform Layer (IPL)
- Containing fibers and synapses of the ganglion cells and
the bipolar neurons of the next layer 1. Anterior chamber
- Second Synaptic Layer - Between the cornea & iris
 Inner nuclear layer (INL) - Filled with Aqueous Humor
- With the cell bodies of several types of bipolar neurons 2. Posterior chamber
which begin to integrate signals from the rod and cone - Between the posterior surface of iris and anterior surface of
cells the lens
 Outer Plexiform Layer (OPL) - Filled with Aqueous Humor
- Containing fibers and synapses of the bipolar neurons and 3. Vitreous space
rod and cone cells - Between the posterior surface of the lens and neural retina
 Outer Nuclear Layer (ONL) - Filled with Vitreous Humor
- With the cell bodies and nuclei of the photosensitive rod
Production/Flow of Aqueous Humor
and cone cells
 Outer Limiting Layer (OLL)
- a line formed by junctional complexes holding the rod and Unpigmented layer of Ciliary
cone cells to the intervening Müller cells Process will produce the
 Rod and Cone layer (RCL) aqueous humor
- which contains the outer segments of these cells where
the photoreceptors are located Posterior Chamber
 Non-neural pigmented layer (PL)
- Which has several supportive functions important for Passes through Pupillary
the function and maintenance of the neural retina Aperture

Anterior Chamber

Drains via
Sclera venous sinus
(Canal of Schlemm)
C. Lens of the Eye
- Transparent and Avascular
- Biconvex structure
- Suspended by the Suspensory Ligament of the lens
- 3 components:
 Lens capsule
- Produced by Anterior Lens Cells
- Most Superficial
 Subscapular epithelium
- Cuboidal layer of cells that is only present on the anterior
surface of the lens
Optic disc  Lens fibers
- Part of the eye that is devoid of retina (because it is pierced by - Derived from the Subscapular Epithelial Cells
many nerve fibers), thus physiologically known as the blind spot - Main bulk

Macula & Fovea centralis

- Part where there is a lot of rods & cones thus the part with
the most acute vision

Epithelium of Ciliary Process

- Extension of the retina
- Made up of 2 layers:
 Double layer of Pigmented Epithelium (inner)
 Non Pigmented Epithelium (outer)
- function to produce the aqueous humor

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 F. LACRIMAL GLAND
- Tubuloalveolar acini
- Contains myoepithelial cells at the base: to squeeze out tears
- Tears drain into a duct

Lens capsule (LC) is a thick, homogenous external lamina formed by the

epithelial cells and fibers. The Anterior surface of the lens, beneath the
capsule, is covered by a Simple Columnar Lens Epithelium (LE).
Differentiating lens fibers (DLF) still have their nuclei, but are greatly
elongating and filling their cytoplasm with proteins called crystallins.
Mature lens fibers (MLF) have lost their nuclei and become densely
packed to produce a unique transparent structure; more compact;
located at the core.
Lacrimal gland
Tubuloalveolar acini (A) - grapelike structures that drain into ducts.
D. Conjunctiva of the Eye Myoepithelial cells (M) these help squeeze out the contents of the acini.
Blood vessels (V) of the microvasculature and intra and interlobular
- Thin, transparent mucous membrane
ducts (D)
- Covers:
 Lateral margin of cornea (edge)
 Across sclera (all exposed part) II. Histology of the Ears
 Covering internal surface of eyelids
- LE: Stratified columnar epithelium with many Goblet Cell
- LP: Loose Connective Tissue

E. Eyelids
- Supported by a connective tissue known as tarsus
- Some muscles found (orbicularis oculi)
- Covered by skin and hair follicles can be found that forms the
eyelashes
- Found internally are Tarsal glands/Meibomian which secrete
mucus to lubricate the eye

The ear is divided into 3 parts:

 Inner ear
- Consists of the Bony and Membranous Labyrinths
 Middle ear
- Made up of Stapes, Incus and Malleus
 External ear
- Made up of the Auricle and the External Auditory Meatus
a. Eyelid
Skin (S) covering its external surface and smooth conjunctiva (C) lining A. Inner ear
its inner surface. Hair follicles (F) for the eyelashes. Striated muscle (M) - Consists of an outer bony labyrinth and within it are
comprising the orbicularis oculi muscle and thick plate of fibroelastic membranous labyrinths
connective tissue tarsus (T) thin layer of connective tissue. Large
sebaceous glands, the tarsal glands (TG) (aka Meibomian glands), Fluid-filled spaces on the Inner Ear
with acini secreting into long central ducts (D).
1. Endolymphatic spaces
b. Conjunctiva
- Within the membranous labyrinth
a mucous membrane consisting of a stratified columnar epithelium with
small and resting on a thin lamina propria (LP). The inner part of the - Scala Media
eyelid contains a lot of tarsal glands. Tarsal gland acini (TG), and the 2. Perilymphatic space
fibrous connective tissue in the tarsus (T) surrounding the acini.
- In which the membranous labyrinth is suspended
- Scala Vestibuli and Scala Tympani

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 3. Cortilymphatic space (Tunnel of Corti or Inner Tunnel (position of head when eyes are closed or when it is
- Lying within the organ of Corti dark)
- Fluid inside is Corticolymph - Made up of Hair cell and Supporting cell

 Hair cell
- Posses stereocillia and a single kinocilum
- Detect what kind of movement (Linear Movement)
and the position of the stationary head
- Steriocilia are embedded in Otolithic Membrane
- Otoliths
- Stone-like structures that are embedded on the
outer part of otolithic membrane
- Causes gelatin to shake that stimulates the hair
cells when there is movement of the head
- Made up of Calcium carbonate on a matrix
proteoglycan
- Facilitates bending of the kilocilia and
stereocilia embedded in this membrane by
gravity or movement of the head.
1. Bony (Osseous) Labyrinths
 Supporting cell
- Filled with fluid (Perilymph) in which the membranous
- Innervated by CN VIII
labyrinth floats
- Made up of 2 types of hair cells:
- Found in the Petrous Portion of the Temporal Bone  Type I
- Hardest and more superficial
- Fat & short
- Can be divided into 3:
- Basal ends of type I hair cells are rounded and
enclosed within a nerve calyx on the afferent
a. Vestibule
fiber
- “Body of Snail”
- Central space
 Type II
- Tall & Slender
b. Semicircular canals (3)
- Type II hair cells are columnar and associated
- “antenna of snail”
with typical bouton synaptic connections to
- Extending from the vestibule posteriorly
their afferents.
c. Cochlea
- “shell of snail”
- Extending from the vestibule anteriorly
- 3 Adjacent fuid-filled spaces:

 Scala vestibuli
- Contains perilymph
- Reissner’s or Vestibular membrane: separates it
from scala media

 Scala media or Endolymphatic Space

- Contain endolymph produced by the Stria vasicularis
- Basilar membrane: separates it from scala tympani

 Scala tympani
- Contains perilymph

2. Membranous Labyrinths
- Also filled with fluid (Endolymph) b. Membranous Semicircular Duct
- Inside the Bony Labyrinth - Within the semicircular canals
- Divided into 3 parts: - Ends are dilated called the ampulla

a. Utricle and Saccule: c. Membranous Cochlear Duct

- Within the vestibule - Within the bony cochlea
- Connected together via the Utriculosaccular Duct
- Have Macula
 Macula
- For detection of static head position

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 Organ of Corti
- Rests on the basilar membrane
- Necessary for sound reception
- Made up of Hair cells and Supporting cells

 Hair cells
- 3 rows externally
- 1 row internally
- Separated by an inner tunnel lined by pillar cells on
both sides
- Receptor cells innervated by the spinal ganglion
- Called hair cells because they have surface projections
that are responsible for auditory reception

 Tectorial Membrane
- Where surface projections are embedded
- Produced by the Interdental Cells of the Spiral limbus

AMPULLA OF MEMBRANOUS SEMICIRCULAR DUCT

 CRISTA AMPULARIS can be found here
- Responsible for detecting angular motion
- Hair cells w/ surface projections embedded on a
proteoglycan matrix/membrane called CUPULA
 Cupula has no otoliths
 Elongated & forms a dome-like structure
 Different from the other membranes which are blanket-
like
 Attached to opposite wall & is moved by the endolymph

Syri avy ujus dohaeragon!

“May it serve you well!

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