SPECIALIZED SENSORY ORGANS

• EYE (perceives light)

ANATOMY OF THE EYE

WALL OF THE EYEBALL:
extraocular
1) OUTER FIBROUS COAT muscles
- support tissue *
Sclera*  dura of optic nerve sheath
Cornea
2) VASCULAR COAT (Uvea)
CSF
- nutrition* retinal vessels
Lens
Choroid* leptomeninges of optic (blood-retinal
nerve sheath (pia mater + arachnoid) barrier)
Ciliary body
Iris optic nerve
with central
3) NERVOUS COAT retinal artery
- functional neural tissue* and vein;
covered with
Blind retina (pars ciliaris, pars iridica) optic nerve
Optic retina*  optic nerve sheath

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 OUTER FIBROUS COAT (TUNICA FIBROSA)
SCLERA (0.5-1 mm thick)
Its anterior part is covered with the conjunctiva
(stratified columnar ep.); underlying CT contains
flat collagen bundles composed of collagen fibres
oriented parallel to the surface.
Lamina fusca - small numbers of elastic fibres.
The scleral stroma (the middle layer) is avascular.
conjunctiva

The limbus
= transition zone
between the sclera
and cornea.

OUTER FIBROUS COAT (TUNICA FIBROSA)

CORNEA transparent disc-like anterior portion of the globe (10.5 x 11.5 mm)
• Corneal epithelium (str. squamous non-keratinized ep. - 5-6 c. layers thick = 50 m)
free nerve endings = aff. part of the blink (ciliary) rx.; ep. cells can regenerate from the area
of the limbus

• Bowman’s membrane (< 10 m) = BL + feltwork of fine collagen fibrils embedded in an

amorphous matrix - its damage results in formation of an opaque corneal scar because
repair is by the haphazard deposition of collagen which may cause loss of visual acuity.

The limbus = transition

zone between the sclera
and cornea.
conjunctiva

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 OUTER FIBROUS COAT (TUNICA FIBROSA)
CORNEA transparent disc-like anterior portion of the globe (10.5 x 11.5 mm)
• Corneal epithelium (str. squamous non-keratinized ep. - 5-6 c. layers thick = 50 m)
free nerve endings = aff. part of the blink (ciliary) rx.; ep. cells can regenerate from the area
of the limbus

• Bowman’s membrane (< 10 m) = BL + feltwork of fine collagen fibrils embedded in an

amorphous matrix - its damage results in formation of an opaque corneal scar because
repair is by the haphazard deposition of collagen which may cause loss of visual acuity.

• Corneal stroma: 60-70 sheets of tightly bound corneal lamellae; Within each lamella
collagen microfibrils run in a parallel fashion; orientation of collagen fibres in each layer is
different to provide maximum mechanical strength. Between the lamellae are the sparce
flattened spindle-shaped keratocytes (corneal fibrocytes); keratocytes produce collagen
and elastic fibres as well as extracellular matrix. Corneal stroma is avascular. This
arrangement is required for transparency of the cornea. Due to complex arrangement of
lamellae this layer can not regenerate.

• Descemet’s membrane (< 10 m) = BL produced by corneal endothelium.

• Posterior epithelium: simple quamous ep. c. linked by desmosomal and occluding

junctions; they pump fluid from the corneal stroma. When these c. are sufficiently depleted
(with age or disease), fluid accumulates in the corneal stroma which then becomes less
transparent.

OUTER FIBROUS COAT (TUNICA FIBROSA)

CORNEA

Anterior corneal epithelium

Bowman’s membrane

Corneal stroma

keratocytes

Descemet’s membrane
Posterior corneal epithelium

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 LIMBUS AND LIMBAL EPITHELIAL STEM CELLS

Vogt palisades

Vogt palisades
= stem cells niche
Limbal epithelial stem
cells:
Smaller than basal cells
of the cornea; cuboidal
(10 μm) in shape. A high
nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, Rich vascularisation and innervation
rich heterochromatin, No Bowmann‘s membrane
no distinct nucleoli. - BM is fenestrated.

LESCs contain the pigment melanin, which protects against UV

damage. LESCs are derived from neural ectoderm limbal cells.

UVEA
1) CHOROID = LCT - pigmented
a) lamina suprachoroidea (attachment to sclera) - LCT interspersed
with melanocytes.
b) lamina vasculosa (large vessels)
c) lamina chorocapillaris (capillary layer arises from larger vessels
in b) its main function is to nourish the retina, non-pigmented CT)
d) lamina vitrea (Bruch’s) double-layered network of CT fibrils + BL
of pigmented epithelium (part of the retina) (+ BL of capillaries)

Ciliary body extends

from the base of the
iris to the ora
serrata. ora serrata

Choroid extends from

the ora serrata to the optic nerve

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UVEA 2) CILIARY BODY = It is composed of a vascular stroma,
smooth muscle, covering epithelium (two layers of columnar c.; outer
layer = pigmented; inner layer (which is in contact with the aqueous) =
non pigmented ep. = ion-pumping c. producing the aqueous humour

Ciliary muscle: smooth m. - its contraction lessens tension on the

suspensory fibres of the lens & allow the lens to assume a more
spherical shape.

Pars plana: posterior flat area about

4 mm long - its stroma is continuous with the
choroid; its epithelium is continuous with the retina;
its non-pigmented ep. secretes the aqueous.

Pars plica: contains ciliary processes (ridges or folds up

to 2 mm long)
The ciliary processes give rise to the suspensory fibres
of the lens (ciliary zonule)

VASCULAR COAT (Uvea)

CILIARY BODY

non pigmented ep.

pigmented ep.

ciliary muscle

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 UVEA 3) IRIS forms a diafragm in front of the lens. It had a circular aperture
(pupil) which can be opened and closed (by the action of muscles).

1) Anterior covering epithelium: simple sq. ep. = continuation of corneal endothelium

2) Anterior limiting membrane an incomplete, fenestrated layer formed from stellate fibroblastic
c. and melanocytes (pigmented c.)

3) Stroma: LCT associated with spindle-shaped fibroblasts, blood

vessels, nn. & pigment- laden cells. Eye colour is determined by
the number of melanocytes in the stroma.

At the pupil
margin is circumferentially arranged smooth muscle of the sphincter m. of the pupil.

4) The dilator muscle layer is composed of the contractile processes of the

myoepithelial c. adjacent to the inner layer of the post. ep.

5) Posterior epithelium: composed of 2 layers of pigmented c. - blind portion of the retina

VASCULAR COAT (Uvea)

IRIS

anterior covering
epithelium

stroma

dilator muscle
posterior
epithelium

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 NERVOUS COAT
• Blind portion of the retina - pars ciliaris
- pars iridica

• Optic retina
ora serrata The macula = area located 2.5 mm
temporal to the optic disc; It is
composed exclusively of cones
(fovea)

It is at the centre of visual axis &

provides high detail colour vision.

In the optic disc, axons of the

nerve fibre layer converge &
give rise to the optic nerve (it
is devoid of photoreceptors
 blind spot)

NERVOUS COAT
Blind portion of the retina - pars ciliaris

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 LAYERS OF SENSORY RETINA
10) inner limiting membrane
9) optic nerve fibre layer
8) ganglion cell layer

7) inner plexiform layer

6) bipolar cell layer
= internal nuclear layer
(bipolar, horizontal, amacrine,
Müller's cells)
5) outer plexiform layer
4) cell bodies of rods & cones
= external nuclear layer
3) outer limiting membrane
2) segments of
rods & cones
1) pigment cell layer

STRUCTURE OF THE FOVEA

Peripheral retina:
• of 10 photons that enter
in the eye, 9 photons are
absorbed during their
passage through the
„transparent“ structures
of the eye

• many photoreceptors
(rods) are mapped onto
one ggl. c.
- a receptive field with
low visual resolution

Cones, which perceive colour, are concentrated in the optical centre of the retina
in a small pit (FOVEA) - each cone synapses with a single bipolar c. that is linked
with a single ganglion cell (high degree of resolution).

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 light is detected in outer
PHOTORECEPTOR CELLS segments
CONES (40 x 4 m) synaptic body is RODS (50 x 2 m)
6 million cup-shaped 120 million
perceive colour
(iodopsin); they are perceive light intensity
concentrated in the (rhodopsin); they are
optical centre of the inner fibre concentrated at the
retina in a small pit periphery of the retina
(the fovea)
outer segments contain cell body
huge stacks (up to inner segment outer fibre
1000) of photoreceptor contains
numerous
discs = light sensitive mitochondria ZA
structures - originate in rods -
as deep infolds of the photoreceptor discs
cell membrane outer
segment pinch off to form free
In cones, photoreceptor discs
discs remain as deep
infolds of cell membrane conical cylindrical

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 RHODOPSIN = pigment that absorbs light is a derivative of vit. A
(11-cis-retinal)
- versatile photopigment
of rods
- transmembrane
protein
- influences morphology
of a cell via its effect on
actin cytoskeleton)

MECHANISM OF LIGHT DETECTION:

the photoreceptor discs contain membrane-associated protein
rhodopsin (iodopsin); when it interacts with a photon, rhodopsin
undergoes a conformational change which causes a fall in the
concentration of a secondary messenger (cGMP). This results in
closure of Na+ channels & hence hyperpolarization which stimulates
associated nerve cells.
Human colour vision depends on three classes of cones:
short- (S), medium- (M), and long- (L) wavelength-sensitive cones -
maximum sensitivity in the red, green, & blue region of the visible
spectrum = trichromatic colour vision.
Horizontal cells: modulate the passage of impulses from the
photoreceptors to the bipolar c.; they allow integration of signals
from adjacent photoreceptors.
Amacrine cells: modify transmission of impulses from the bipolar c.
to the ganglion c.; they allow integration of signals from adjacent
groups of photoreceptors.
Supporting c.: astrocytes + Müller's cells

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 FUNCTIONS OF A RETINAL PIGMENT CELL
= simple cuboidal cells containing melanin
outer segments of
photoreceptors apical cell
are embedded in processes (large
the microvilli of microvilli)
pigment ep. containing melanin
granules extend
1) Phagocytosis upward & surround
of the old the photoreceptors
(degenerating)
photoreceptor 2) Synthesis
discs of melanin

3) Vitamin A
transport &
esterification
4) Ion
in sER
transport

THE LENS: a soft transparent (avascular) biconvex structure

encased in a capsule. A layer of cuboidal ep. c. beneath the
capsule covers the anterior portion; in posterior portion lens
epithelium is transformed in lens fibres which lost their nuclei.
The lens is suspended by suspensory fibres = the ciliary zonule.

THE EYE IS DIVIDED INTO THREE COMPARTMENTS

• The vitreous space filled with vitreous body: a transparent gelatinous
structure located behind the lens (4 ml of a specialized support tissue)

• The anterior & posterior aqueous chambers: lie anterior to the lens;
delineated by the iris & communicate via the aperture of the pupil. The
aqueous humour is filtered through trabecular meshwork (located in
the irido-corneal drainage angle) & enters the canal of Schlemm (then
enters the venous vessels)

THE ACCESSORY COMPONENTS OF THE EYE:

• Conjuctiva
• Eyelid
• Lacrimal gland

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