Step-by-Step Path of Light

Vocabulary flashcards covering the structures involved in the step-by-step path of light through the eye.

Cornea

The clear, dome-shaped outer layer that light first hits, which bends or refracts the light to start the focusing process.

Aqueous Humor

The clear, watery fluid that fills the space behind the cornea through which light moves.

Pupil

The opening in the center of the eye through which light passes.

Iris

The colored structure that adjusts the size of the pupil to control how much light gets inside.

Lens

The clear structure that changes shape to fine-tune the focus of light for near or distant objects.

Vitreous Humor

The clear, jelly-like substance filling the main part of the eye through which light travels.

Retina

The light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that contains special cells to turn light into electrical signals.

Rods and Cones

Special cells in the retina that turn light into electrical signals.

Optic Nerve

The nerve that carries electrical signals from the retina to the brain, which turns them into the images you see.