Parts of the Eye

Anterior Chamber

The space between the cornea and the iris, filled with the aqueous humor

Choroid

The vascular layer of the eye, containing connective tissue. Nutrition of the eye is dependent upon blood vessels in the choroid.

Ciliary Body

The part of the eye that connects the iris to the choroid.

Cornea

The clear, dome-shaped tissue covering the front of the eye.

Fovea

A tony pit located in the macula of the retina that provides the clearest vision of all

Iris

The colored part of the eye that controls the amount of light that enters the eye by changing the size of the pupil.

Lens

A crystalline structure located just behind the iris- it focuses light onto the retina

Macula

The small area at the center of the retina responsible for what we see straight in front of us

Optic Nerve

The nerve that transmits electrical impulses from the retina to the brain. This is cranial nerve #2

Pupil

The opening in the center of the iris. It changes size as the amount of light changes.

Retina

Light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. It contains millions of photoreceptors (rods and cones) that convert light rays into electrical impulses that are relayed to the brain via the optic nerve.

Vitreous Gel (Humor)

A thick, transparent liquid that fills the center of the eye. It is mostly water and gives the eye its form and shape.

Sclera

The white outer coating of the eye made of collagen fibers that extends from the cornea to the optic nerve

Optic Disk

The point of exit for ganglion cell axons leaving the eye.

Suspensory Ligaments

It maintains and supports the position of the eyeball in its normal upward, forward position in the orbit.