OV1015: The Ciliary Body & Accommodation

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the ciliary body, its anatomy, and the process of accommodation.

Ciliary body

The part of the eye that extends between the choroid and iris, controlling the shape of the lens and producing aqueous humour.

Pars plicata

The anterior portion of the ciliary body characterized by 70-100 ciliary processes with intervening valleys.

Pars plana

The flat posterior region of the ciliary body that acts as a transition zone to the ora serrata.

Ciliary muscle

Smooth muscle that changes the shape of the lens for accommodation.

Aqueous humour

Fluid produced by the ciliary body, providing nutrients to the avascular lens and cornea.

Zonules (Suspensory ligaments)

Fibrous strands that suspend the lens in place, allowing it to change shape.

Accommodation

The ability of the eye to change its refractive power to focus on near or distant objects.

Edinger-Westphal nucleus (EWN)

A nucleus that contains preganglionic parasympathetic neurons controlling the ciliary muscle.

Presbyopia

The gradual loss of the eye's ability to focus on close objects due to aging changes in the lens.

Aqueous drainage channels

Pathways through which aqueous humour drains, including the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm.