Format Practice: The Human Eye: Structures and Functions

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts, terms, and definitions related to the structures and functions of the human eye.

Cornea

Transparent covering of the front of the eye; allows light to enter and functions as a fixed lens.

Pupil

The black hole in the iris where light enters the eye.

Iris

Colored circular muscle that controls the amount of light entering the eye.

Sclera

Tough white skin that covers the eyeball except for the cornea; supports the eyeball and provides attachment for muscles.

Lens

A converging lens behind the pupil that allows us to see objects near and far.

Retina

Internal membrane that contains light-receptive cells; converts light to electrical signals.

Optic Nerve

Transmits electrical impulses from the retina to the brain.

Blind Spot

Area on the retina where the optic nerve leads back into the brain; no rod or cone cells are present.

Hyperopia

Far-sightedness; difficulty seeing close objects due to the distance between lens and retina being too small.

Myopia

Near-sightedness; difficulty seeing distant objects due to the distance between lens and retina being too large.

Astigmatism

Condition where the eye cannot focus an object’s image on a single point on the retina, often due to an oval cornea.

Glaucoma

Group of diseases affecting the optic nerve, leading to gradual vision loss and potentially blindness.

Cataracts

Clouding of the lens due to protein denaturation, obstructing light passage; often corrected through surgery.

Presbyopia

Form of far-sightedness that makes reading difficult due to loss of lens elasticity with age.