Essentials of Medical Terminology: Anatomy of the Eye

Vocabulary flashcards covering the anatomical structures, cavities, and fluids of the eye based on the Essentials of Medical Terminology lecture.

Orbit

The bony protective cavity of the skull in which the eye is located.

Outer eye

The facial structures and eye muscles surrounding the eye.

Inner eye

The eyeball, which is composed of three distinct layers.

Cornea

The transparent anterior portion of the eye that allows light in and aids in focusing light onto the back of the eye.

Sclera

The white of the eye, which provides a protective covering for the eyeball.

Uvea

The middle layer of the inner eye, consisting of the choroids, the ciliary body, and the iris.

Choroids

The inner lining of the sclera that contains blood vessels that nourish the eye.

Ciliary body

A structure of the uvea consisting of the ciliary muscles and the ciliary process.

Retina

The structure in the back of the eye that transforms the focused image into nerve impulses that travel along the optic nerve to the occipital lobe of the brain.

Optic disc (blind spot)

A small area of the retina lacking cones and rods that produces no visual image; serves as the entry point for major blood vessels and where the optic nerve crosses into the eye.

Anterior cavity

The front cavity of the eye located in front of the lens that contains aqueous humor.

Aqueous humor

A watery fluid produced by the ciliary processes that flows freely from the posterior chamber through the pupil to the anterior chamber, functioning to further refract light rays.

Posterior cavity

The back cavity of the eye located behind the lens that is filled with clear, jellylike vitreous humor.

Vitreous humor

A clear, jellylike material filling the posterior cavity that preserves the spherical shape of the eyeball, holds the retina firmly against the choroid, and further refracts light rays.