Histology of the eyeball,

eyelid and lacrimal gland

Endre Dobó
November 2018
 Layers of the eyeball
> fibrous layer
> cornea
> sclera

> vascular layer / uvea

blind part of retina
> choroid
[1+1 layers]
> ciliary body
> iris
ora serrata
[boundary; 9 layers reduced to 1 here]
> inner layer / retinal layer
> as to the development
optic part of retina
> neural layer
[1+9 layers]
> pigment epithelium
> as to the structure
> blind part of retina
> (ora serrata)
> optic part of retina
(retina proper)
 Eyeball (bulbus oculi)
main layers:
> fibrous layer / fibrous tunic / corneoscleral layer (tunica fibrosa)
> cornea
> (corneo-scleral junction)
> sclera
> vascular layer / uveal layer (tunica vasculosa / uvea)
> choroid
> ciliary body (corpus ciliare)
> iris
> inner layer / sensory layer / nervous layer / retinal layer (tunica interna)
> as to the development of the eyeball
> neural layer (str. cerebrale)
> pigment layer (str. pigmentosum / str. pigmenti retinae)
> as to the anatomical structure
> blind part (pars coeca retinae)
> (ora serrata)
> optic part (pars optica retinae)
> neuronal retina proper
Layers of the eyeball (1)

retina

choroid

sclera

extra-ocular muscle
Layers of the eyeball (2)
layer of the afferent fibers (9th)

ganglion cell layer (8th)

inner nuclear layer (6th)

outer nuclear layer (4th)

rod and cone processes (2nd)

pigment cells (1st)

choroid

sclera
 Cornea
> anterior one-sixth of the main layer
> transparent
> its junction with the sclera covered by conjunctiva: limbus
> sensory innervation by long ciliary nerves [n. V/1]
> lacks vasculature (!)
> layers:
> corneal epithelium (epithelium corneae / epithelium anterius corneae)
> stratified squamous epithelium
> underneath, there are no connective tissue papillae
> free nerve endings from ophthalmic nerve [n. V/1.]
> Bowman's membrane (lamina limitans anterior / membrana limitans anterior)
> acidophil, cell-free membrane
> if injured, it loses its transparency (weak regeneration capacity)
> substantia propria corneae
> stroma
> keratocytes
> highly regular form of dense collagenous tissue
> Descemet's membrane (lamina limitans posterior)
> acidophil basement membrane
> corneal endothelium / corneal mesothelium (endothelium camerae anterioris)
> simple squamous epithelium
 Sclera
> posterior five-sixths of the main layer
> opaque
> contains few blood vessels
> provides insertion for the extra-ocular muscles
> layers:
> suprachoroid lamina (lamina fusca sclerae)
> thin layer with occasional melanocytes
> may be considered arteficial layer on the inner surface of sclera
> scleral stroma (substantia propria sclerae)
> densely collagenous, hypocellular tissue with elastic fibers
> episcleral layer
> connected to the Tenon's capsule by fine delicate collagenous fibers
> important anatomical part:
> lamina cribrosa
> perforated layer of the sclera for the passage of optic nerve fibers
 Boundary of cornea and sclera
> from external view:
> conjunctival ring (anulus conjunctivae)
> beginning of the conjunctiva of the eyeball
> scleral sulcus (sulcus sclerae)
> „in the middle":
> limbus corneae (corneoscleral junction)
> from internal view:
> Descemet’s membrane terminates, and trabecular meshwork begins
> iridocorneal angle (angulus iridocornealis)
> trabecular meshwork (spongiosa sclerae)
> drainage of aqueous humor (humor aquosus)
> parts:
> trabecules / pectinate ligaments (ligg. pectinata)
> spaces of Fontana (spatia anguli iridocornealis)
> there is NO endothelial lining
> are NOT continuous with the canal of Schlemm
> canal of Schlemm (sinus venosus sclerae / canalis Schlemmi)
> single circular vessel, lined by endothelium
> minute channels (venae aquosae) through the sclera lead to the episcleral venous
system
Corneoscleral junction
corneal epithelium

conjunctival ring

substantia propria corneae

Descemet’s membrane

iridocorneal angle

trabecular meshwork

canal of Schlemm

ciliary epithelium
 Choroid
> layers:
> suprachoroidal lamina (lamina suprachoroidea)
> contains only a few vessels and pigment
> houses the ciliary nerves, posterior ciliary arteries and the vorticose veins
> perichoroidal space (spatium perichoroideale)
> spatial system, part of which forms lymph pathways
> vascular lamina (lamina vasculosa / lamina vascularis)
> precapillary arterioles and postcapillary venules
> choriocapillary layer (lamina choroidocapillaris / lamina choriocapillaris)
> network of fenestrated capillaries
> Bruch's membrane (lamina vitrea / lamina basalis)
> double layer of basement membranes
> blood-retina barrier
 Ciliary body
> anatomical structure:
> orbiculus ciliaris (pars plana)
> ciliary m. (m. ciliaris)
> meridional fibers / longitudinal fibers (fibrae meridionales)
> radial fibers (fibrae radiales)
> circular fibers (fibrae circulares)
> corona ciliaris (pars plicata)
> ciliary folds (plicae ciliares)
> ciliary processes (processus ciliares)
> aqueous humor (humor aquosus) is secreted here
> ciliary zonule (zonula ciliaris)
> suspensory ligament of Zinn (zonular fibers)
> attached to the coronal equator of the lens
> histological structure:
> stroma (stroma corporis ciliaris)
> loose connective tissue, with capillary network and ciliary muscles
> ciliary epithelium of the non-visual retina (pars ciliaris retinae)
> outer layer is pigmented (closer to the stroma)
> inner layer is NOT pigmented (abutting on the vitreous body)
Ciliary body
stroma corporis ciliaris

epithelium ciliare

outer pigmented layer

inner NOT pigmented layer

ciliary processes
 Iris
> anatomical structure:
> pupillary margin (margo pupillaris)
> lesser arterial circle of iris (circulus arteriosus iridis minor)
> ciliary margin (margo ciliaris)
> greater arterial circle of iris (circulus arteriosus iridis major)
> pectinate ligaments (ligamenta pectinata)
> among them: spaces of Fontana (spatia anguli iridocornealis)
> histological structure:
> anterior surface (endothelium camerae anterioris)
> discontinuous epithelium, intermingled with melanocytes and fibrocytes
> stroma iridis
> constrictor m. of the pupil (m. sphincter pupillae)
> innervated by parasympathetic fibers from the oculomotor n.
> pigmented cells (melanocytes)
> dilator pupillae m. (m. dilatator pupillae)
> smooth muscle cells (neuroectodermal by origin) or
> pigmented (!) myoepithelial cells
> innervated by sympathetic fibers from the carotid plexus)
> (membrana limitans iridis)
> membrana basalis
> iridial epithelium / pigmented epithelium (str. pigmenti iridis / pars iridica retinae)
> bilayered epithelium of the non-visual retina
Iris
endothelium camerae anterioris

stroma iridis

melanocytes

sphincter pupillae m.

dilatator pupillae m.

pigmented epithelium
 Sensory tunic / inner layer
> parts - as to the development:
> neural retina (str. nervosum / str. cerebrale retinae)
> 9 inner histological layers
> pigment epithelium (str. pigmentosum retinae)
> 1 layer – simple epithelium, which is pigmented
> parts - as to the anatomy:
> light-INsensitive part (pars coeca retinae)
> contains NO photoreceptors
> ciliary part of retina
> iridial part of retina
> (ora serrata)
> here reduce the 10 layers into 2 cell layers of pars coeca
> light-sensitive part (pars optica retinae)
> contains photoreceptors (rods and cones)
 Optic part of inner layer
> (1) str. pigmentosum / str. pigmenti retinae (pigment epithelium)
> pigmented epithelium
> (2) str. neuroepitheliale / str. bacilli et coni (rod and cone processes)
> processes of light-sensitive cells: rods (bacilli) and cones (coni)
> (3) str. limitans externum / membrana limitans externa (outer limiting membrane)
> formed by Müller cells (glial cells)
> (4) str. granulosum externum / str. nucleare externum (outer nuclear layer)
> somata of the photoreceptor cells
> (5) str. plexiforme externum (outer plexiform layer)
> between the receptor cells and bipolar cells
> between the horizontal cells and receptor cells
> (6) str. granulosum internum / str. nucleare internum (inner nuclear layer)
> neurons: bipolar and horizontal neurons, amacrine cells
> cell bodies of Müller cells
> (7) str. plexiforme internum (inner plexiform layer)
> between the bipolar neurons and ganglion cells
> (8) str. ganglionare (ganglion cell layer)
> ganglion cells
> (9) str. neurofibrarum (layer of the afferent fibers)
> unmyelinated optic nerve fibers
> here branch the retinal central blood vessels
> (10) str. limitans internum / mebrana limitans internum (inner limiting membrane)
> formed by Müller glial cells; demarcates the innermost aspect of the retina from the
vitreous body
Layers of the eyeball (2)
inner limiting membrane (10th)
layer of the afferent fibers (9th)
ganglion cell layer (8th)
inner plexiform layer (7th)
inner nuclear layer (6th)
outer plexiform layer (5th)
outer nuclear layer (4th)
inner limiting membrane (3rd)
rod and cone processes (2nd)

pigment cells (1st)

choroid

sclera
Media of light transmission
in the eyeball

> principal refracting media of the eye

> cornea
> lens of eye (lens crystalina)

> non-refracting optical media of the eye

> aqueous humor (humor aquosus)
> vitreous body (corpus vitreum)
Circulation and drainage of
aqueous humor

> ciliary process of ciliary body

> posterior chamber

> anterior chamber

> spaces of Fontana of the trabecular meshwork

(between the pectinate ligamants)

> canal of Schlemm (sinus venosus sclerae)

> venae aquosae (small-caliber blood vessels)

> episcleral veins

 Conjunctiva
> bulbar conjunctiva (conjunctiva bulbaris / conjunctiva bulbi)
> continuous with the cornea
> non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
> connective tissue papillae
> lamina propria
> (conjunctival fornix [fornix conjunctivae [reflection])
> stratified columnar epithelium
> palpebral conjunctiva (conjunctiva palpebralis / conjunctiva palpebrae)
> stratified columnar epithelium
> close to the fornix
> goblet cells occur in the outermost layer (!!!)
> non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
> close to the anterior palpebral edge
> small lacrimal glands may appear in the entire conjunctiva
 Lens of eye
> elastic biconvex structure
> histological structure:
> lens capsule (capsula lentis)
> 10-20-micrometer thick membrana basalis
> anterior surface
> subcapsular epithelium (epithelium anterius)
> single cuboidal epithelium
> (lens equator)
> posterior surface
> lens fibers (fibrae lentis)
> epithelial cells
> losing their nuclei: anucleate fibers
> stretch between the anterior and posterior poles of the lens
> contain crystalline protein
 Compartments of the eyeball
the eye is partioned by the lens, suspenssory ligament and ciliary body into:
> smaller anterior compartment
> filled with aqueous humor
> watery fluid, hypotonic with respect to plasma
> secreted by the ciliary processes of ciliary body
> source of nutrients for the non-vascular lens and cornea
> parts
> anterior chamber (camera bulbi anterior)
> bordered by cornea, iris and lens
> posterior chamber (camera bulbi posterior)
> bordered by lens, suspensory ligament and ciliary body
> large posterior compartment
> contains vitreous body
> gelatinous mass
> consisting of vitreous humor
> 99% is water & hyaluronic acid
> hyaloid canal / Cloquet’s canal (canalis hyaloideus)
> hyaloid artery during embryological development
> membrana hyaloidea (vitreous membrane / hyaloid membrane)
> condensation of fibers on the surface of the vitreous body
 Eyelids
> cutaneous part (covered by skin)
> anterior palpebral surface
> derivatives of skin: hair follicles, sebaceous gll., eccrine sweat gll.
> layers of striated muscles
> orbicularis oculi m. (& levator palpebrae superior m.)
> tarsus / tarsal plate
> dense fibro-elastic plate
> tarsal gll. / Meibomian gll.
> elongated holocrine gll. (modified sebaceous gll.)
> compound gland, which opens freely (separate from hair follicles)
> tarsal muscles are anchored onto the plate
> smooth muscle (!!!), innervated by sympathetic nerves
> conjunctival part (covered by conjunctiva)
> facies posterior palpebrae
> conjunctival epithelium
> towards the limbus palpebralis posterior
> non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
> close to the fornix conjunctivae
> stratified columnar epithelium
> goblet cells in the surface layer
> conjunctival mucous secretion
> accessory lacrimal glands (gll. lacrimales accessoriae)
> e.g. glands of Krause
> in the vicinity of the superior conjunctival fornix
Eyelid (1)
pars conjunctivalis

orbicularis oculi m.

tarsal plate

Meibomian gland
excretory duct

conjunctival epithelium

pars cutanea (skin)

gland of Zeiss
eyelash
Eyelid (2)
pars cutanea

hair follicle

orbicularis oculi m.

tarsal plate

Meibomian gland (secretory acinus)

 Free margin of the eyelid
> limbus palpebralis anterior (anterior edge of the free margin of the eyelid)
> (in its vicinity)
> eyelashes (cilia)
> is devoid of arrector pili m.
> glands that open into the pilosebaceus duct of eyelashes
> glands of Zeiss
> ordinary sebaceous glands
> ciliary glands of Moll
> apocrine sweat gll.
> wide lumen
> simple colied tubules
> limbus palpebralis posterior (posterior edge of the free margin of the eyelid)
> (in its vicinity)
> tarsal glands of Meibom
> 12-30 glands in each eyelid
Eyelid (3)
pars cutanea (cutaneous surface)

orbicularis oculi m.

hair follcicle

eccrine sweat gland

limbus palpebralis anterior

gland of Zeiss

eyelash
 Lacrimal gland
tubulo-alveolar gland
> serous secretory portions (acini)
> lumens are wide
> secration of tears
> watery fluid containing lysozyme
> electrolites of similar concentration to the plasma
> moistens and lubricates the eyeball and eyelids
> myoepithelial cells around
> excretory duct
> dozen or more small ducts into the superior fornix
> tears drain into the nasal cavity via the nasolacrimal duct

comparison of the lacrimal gland with other serous glands

the lacrimal gland lacks the following items:
> intercalated tubules
> striated ducts
> centroaciner cells
> islets of Langerhans
 Lacrimal gland

plasma cell

lymphocytes

secretory portions excretory duct