Conjunctiva
The upper half of a sagittal section through the front of the eyeball. (Label for 'Conjunctiva' visible at center-left. )
Horizontal section of the eyeball. (Conjunctiva labeled at upper left. )
Gray's	subject #227 1026
Artery	lacrimal artery, anterior ciliary arteries
Nerve	lacrimal nerve
MeSH	Conjunctiva

Image of a human eye clearly showing the blood vessels of the conjuntiva. the Peripheral organs of the Special senses the organs of Taste ( Peripheral gustatory or Arteries are Blood vessels that carry blood away from the Heart. The lacrimal artery arises close to the Optic foramen, and is one of the largest branches derived from the Ophthalmic artery: not infrequently it is given off before The anterior ciliary arteries are derived from the muscular branches of the Ophthalmic Artery. A nerve is an enclosed cable-like bundle of peripheral Axons (the long slender projections of Neurons. The lacrimal nerve is the smallest of the three branches of the ophthalmic. Medical Subject Headings ( MeSH) is a huge Controlled vocabulary (or metadata system for the purpose of indexing journal articles and books

The conjunctiva is a clear membrane that covers the sclera (white part of the eye) and lines the inside of the eyelids. The sclera, called the white or white of the eye, is the opaque (usually white though certain animals such as horses and lizards can have black sclera fibrous Eyes are organs that detect Light, and send signals along the Optic nerve to the visual areas of the brain An eyelid is a thin fold of skin that covers and protects an Eye. It is made of lymphoid tissue.

Function

It helps lubricate the eye by producing mucus and tears, although a smaller volume of tears than the lacrimal gland. Eyes are organs that detect Light, and send signals along the Optic nerve to the visual areas of the brain In vertebrates mucus is a slippery secretion produced by and covering Mucous membranes It is a viscous Colloid containing Antiseptic enzymes (such as Tears are the liquid product of a process of lacrimation to clean and lubricate the Eyes The word lacrimation may also be used in a medical or literary sense Tears are the liquid product of a process of lacrimation to clean and lubricate the Eyes The word lacrimation may also be used in a medical or literary sense The lacrimal glands are paired almond-shaped Glands, one for each eye that secrete the aqueous layer of the tear film ^[1] It also contributes to immune surveillance and helps to prevent the entrance of microbes into the eye. An immune system is a collection of mechanisms within an Organism that protects against Disease by identifying and killing Pathogens and Tumor A microorganism (also spelled micro organism or micro-organism and also called a microbe) is an Organism that is Microscopic (usually

Histology

The conjunctiva is typically divided into three parts:

1. Palpebral or tarsal conjunctiva: The conjunctiva lining the eyelids.
2. Fornix conjunctiva: The conjunctiva where the inner part of the eyelids and the eyeball meet, the palpebral conjunctiva is reflected at the superior fornix and the inferior fornix to become the bulbar conjunctiva. It is loose and flexible, allowing the free movement of the lids and eyeball. An ophthalmologist can insert eye drops into the lower eyelid space. The substance works its way up the surface of the eyeball and diffuse into the internal eye. ^[2]
3. Bulbar or ocular conjunctiva: The conjunctiva covering the eyeball, over the sclera. The sclera, called the white or white of the eye, is the opaque (usually white though certain animals such as horses and lizards can have black sclera fibrous This region of the conjunctiva is bound tightly and moves with the eyeball movements.

Diseases and disorders

Main article: List of eye diseases and disorders

Disorders of the conjunctiva and cornea are a common source of eye complaints. This is a partial list of human Eye diseases and disorders. The World Health Organization publishes a classification of known diseases and injuries called the The cornea is the transparent front part of the Eye that covers the iris, Pupil, and Anterior chamber.

The surface of the eye is exposed to various external influences and is especially suspectible to trauma, infections, and allergic reactions. Treatment of physical trauma is described here and in First aid. An infection is the detrimental Colonization of a host Organism by a foreign Species. Allergy is a disorder of the Immune system often also referred to as Atopy.

The conjunctiva is best known because of its inflamed state, conjunctivitis (more commonly known as pinkeye). Inflammation ( Latin, inflamatio, to set on fire is the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli such as Pathogens Conjunctivitis (commonly called " Pink Eye " or " Red Eye " in North America and " Madras eye " in India) is an inflammation

Conjunctival irritation is one of the adverse health effects that can take place after overexposure to VOCs (Volatile organic compounds). This article describes a highly specialized aspect of its subject in the "Terminology and legal definitions" section

See also

• Pinguecula
• Pterygium
• Rougine

Additional images

Sagittal section through the upper eyelid. A pinguecula is a common type of conjunctival degeneration in the Eye. Pterygium refers to any winglike triangular membrane occurring in the Neck, eyes Knees elbows Ankles It is an instrument used in Ophthalmology. It is used to operate on the conjunctival sac.

References

External links

• Medicinenet. com (1999). Conjunctiva. Retrieved July 25, 2004.
• MedEd at Loyola medicine/pulmonar/images/anatomy/eyeli.jpg