ANATOMY AND

EMBRYOLOGY OF
THE EYE
DR. ABEER SATTI
• Eye is the organ of vision that consist mainly of the eyeball and optic
nerve. It is situated in a bony cavity in the skull and surrounded
by an ocular adenxia
• Shape » Almost spherical
• Diameter » About 2.5 cm
• Volume » Approximately 7 cc
 STRUCTURE OF THE EYE
• The eyeball has three layers:
1. The outer fibrous layer »
Sclera and cornea
2. The middle vascular layer »
Iris, ciliary body and choroid
3. The inner nervous tissue layer »
Retina.
• Interior of the eyeball:
1. Aqueous humour
2. Lens
3. Vitreous.
• Accessory structures of the eye:
1. Eyebrows
2. Eyelids and eyelashes
3. Lacrimal apparatus
4. Extraocular muscles of the eye
 THE OUTER FIBROUS LAYER
SCLERA
• It is the firm, fibrous tough outermost coating of the eye

• Consists of 3 layers :
• The episclera , the scleral stroma , and the lamina fusca

• Functions:
1. Maintains the shape of the eye
2. Gives attachment to the extraocular
muscles
• It is about 1 mm thick.

• Lamina cribrosa » It is part of sclera in which it becomes thin (seive-like

membrane) at the site where the optic nerve pierces it.
 CONJUNCTIVA
• Divided into :
Bulbar conjunctiva , Palpebral conjunctiva , and Fornices
• Composed of epithelium and lamina propria
• Goblet cells and tear film

• Functions:
1- Blood supply to the cornea
2- Cover the sclera and EOM
3- Contribute in tear film production
 CORNEA
• It is the transparent most anterior 1/6 structure of the eyeball

• Composed of five layers :

1. Epithelium
2. Bowmans layer
3. Stroma
4. Decement membrane
5. Endothelium
• Avascular and rich innervation

• Function ⟹ Refraction of light

• Corneal dehydration and transparency
 THE CORNEAL LIMBUS
(Or corneoscleral junction) ⟹
• It is the point at which the cornea becomes continuous with the sclera
• It is an important landmark
• There is a minute arcade of blood vessels
(1 mm broad) present at the limbus.
 THE MIDDLE VASCULAR LAYER
THE IRIS
• It is a pigmented diaphragm iris is a coloured, free, circular
• It divides the anterior segment of the eye into Anterior and Posterior
chambers which contain aqueous humour secreted by the ciliary body
• Iris consist of ⟹
Anterior stroma and posterior bilayered epithelium
• Stroma rich in melanocytes and fibroblasts

• Pupil ⟹ An aperture in the centre of the iris » Sphincter pupillae and Dilator
pupillae muscles
(Constriction and
dilatation of the pupil)
 THE CILIARY BODY
• Triangular in shape with base forwards.
• Continuous anteriorly with iris and posteriorly with choroid (the iris is attached
to the middle of the base)
• Circular structure composed of
⟹ Two main parts »
Pars plicata and Pars plana
• Ciliary processes (bilayered epithelium) and the ciliary muscle (Stroma)
• Function :
1. Production of aqueous humor
2. Accommodation of lens
 CHOROID
• A dark brown, highly vascular layer
• It extends from the ora serrata up to the aperture of the optic nerve in the
sclera

Function »
• Supply of the retina and
other parts of eye
 THE INNER NERVOUS TISSUE LAYER
THE RETINA
• The innermost layer which is responsible for formation of image

• Composed of 10 layers ⟹
Retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE)
and neurosensory retina (9 layers)
• Photoreceptores (Cons and
Rods) ⟹ Day and Night vision
 Macula and Fovea ⟹ Center of vision (Cons)
• Yellow area
• Central depression
• Optic disc circular, pink coloured, 1.5 mm diameter.

It is known as the blind spot

Function »
• Transformation of light into electrical signals
 THE OPTIC NERVE
• Extends from the lamina cribrosa up to the optic chiasma. The total length of the
optic nerve is 5 cm.
• 4 parts ⟹ Intra-ocular , Intr-aorbital , Intra-canalicualr , and Intracranial

• Surrounded by meninges
• Cannot regenerate
 VISUAL PATHWAY
Optic chiasm (pituitary gland and sella tursica) (Decussation) ⟶
Optic tract ⟶
lateral geniculate body ⟶
Optic radiation ⟶
Visual or Occipital cortex
(Calcarine sulcus ,
Broadman area 17-18)
 INTERIOR OF THE EYEBALL
AQUEOUS HUMOUR
• Both anterior and posterior chambers contain a clear aqueous humour fluid
secreted into the posterior chamber by the ciliary epithelium.
• Pathway
• Draining ⟶ To the venous circulation through (canal of schlemm)

The angle of the eye ⟹

Trabecular meshwork for draining
of aqueous humor
• Its blockage cause high IOP (main
Factor in glaucoma)
 THE LENS
• Transparent biconvex structure which has ⟹

Elastic Capsule , Cortex and Nucleus

• Lens zonules

• Function ⟹ 1- Accommodation of the eye

2- Refraction of light
 VITREOUS
• Is a transparent, colourless, inert gel
• Fills the posterior 4/5 of the eyeball.
• It contains few hyalocytes and
wandering leucocytes.
• It consists of 99% water, some
salts and mucoproteins
 ACCESSORY STRUCTURES OF THE EYE
• The eye is a delicate organ which is protected by several structures (Ocular
adenxia)

1. Eyebrows
• Are two arched ridges of the supraorbital margins of the frontal bone. Numerous
hair (eyebrows) project obliquely from
the surface of the skin.
• Function ⟹ Protect the eyeball
from sweat, dust and other foreign bodies.
 THE EYELIDS
• Two movable folds of tissue situated above and below the front of each eye.
There are short curved hair, the eyelashes situated on their free edges
• Upper and lower eyelids (palpebral fissure) , Anterior and posterior lamellae
(Grey line)
• Composed of 6 layers ⟹ Skin , Subcutaneous tissue , 3 muscles: Orbicularis
oculi muscle ,levator and muller , Neurovascular bundle , Tarsal plates , and the
Conjunctiva
• Mebomian gland , and Zies glands (eyelashes) ⟹ Sebaceous glands
• Gland of Moll ⟹ Modified sweat gland
• Functions :
1- Protection of the eyeball
2- Opening (levator palpeprie superiosis muscle) ,
Closure of the eye and Blinking (orbicularies muscle)
3- Tear film production (Glands)
 LACRIMAL SYSTEM
• Lacrimal gland ⟹ Bilobed gland (Orbital and Palpebral parts)
• Situated in the superiotemporal part of the orbital cavity
• Tear production

• Lacrimal draining ⟹
• Lacrimal puncti ⟶ Canaliculi ⟶ Lacrimal sac
⟶ Nasolacrimal duct ⟶ The nose
 EXTRA-OCULAR MUSCLES
• 4 recti and 2 obliques
• All recti originate posteriorly from the orbital
cavity (annulus of zinn) and inserted anteriorly
into the eyeball (sclera)

• Superior oblique passing through the troclea and

then inserted into the eyeball
• Inferior oblique originate from orbital floor and passing posteriorly to be
inserted into the eyeball
• Innervation ⟹ All muscles by the oculomoter nerve (CN3) , Except superior
oblique by troclear nerve (SO4) , and lateral rectus by the abducent nerve
(CN6)
 BLOOD AND NERVE SUPPLY OF THE
EYE
• Ophthalmic artery ⟹ Branch of the internal carotid artery
• Enter through the optic canal

• Branches ⟹ Central retinal artery

and ciliary arteries (Short - about 20
in number- and long ciliary -2 in
number- arteries)
• Ophthalmic vein (superior and inferior) ⟹ The short ciliary veins, anterior
ciliary veins, 4 vortex veins and the central retinal vein.
• Drains into the cavernous sinus
 NERVE SUPPLY TO THE EYE
• Three types of nerves ⟹ Motor, Sensory and Autonomic.

1. The motor nerves:

i. The third cranial nerve (Oculomotor)
ii. The 4th cranial nerve [Trochlear] ⟶
Superior oblique muscle.
iii. The 6th cranial nerve [Abducens] ⟶
Lateral rectus muscle.
iv. The 7th cranial nerve [Facial] ⟶
Orbicularis oculi muscle.
2. The sensory nerve ⟹ The 5th cranial nerve [Trigeminal] ⟶ The
ophthalmic division supplies the whole eye.

3. The autonomic nerves:

1. The sympathetic (Through the cervical sympathetic fibers) to ⟹
i. Iris ⟶ Dilator pupillae muscle
ii. Ciliary body
iii. Müller’s muscle in the lids
iv. Lacrimal gland.
2. The parasympathetic (Originates from the nuclei in the midbrain). It gives
branches to ⟹
i. Iris ⟶ Sphincter pupillae muscle ii. Ciliary body iii. Lacrimal gland
 ORBITAL CAVITY
• Pyramidal shape in the skull with its apex directed posteriorly

• Roof ⟹ Frontal bone , and lesser wing of Sphenoid

• Medial wall ⟹ Maxillary ,
Ethmoidal , Lacrimal and Sphenoidal bones
• Floor ⟹ Maxillary ,
Zygomatic and Palatine bones
• Lateral wall ⟹ Zygomatic bone ,
and greater wing of Sphenoid
• Orbital cavity openings ⟹
• Superior orbital fissure
• Inferior orbital fissure
• Optic canal
 PARANASAL SINUSES
• Superionasally ⟹ Frontal sinuses
• Nasally ⟹ Ethmoidal sinuses
• Inferiorly ⟹ Maxillary sinuses
• Posteriorly ⟹ Sphenoidal sinuses
EMBRYOLOGY OF THE EYE
• The central nervous system develops from the neural tube.
• The optic plate ⟹ Thickening on either side of the neural tube in its
anterior part
 THE EYEBALL
• By 22 days → Optic plate (Peduncles) formation (neuroectoderm of the
brain)
• By 27 days → Optic vesicles and
Optic stalk formation.
• Lens placode → Lens vesicle
• Optic vesicle → Double layered optic cup → Optic or choroidal
fissure (Groove at the inferior edge)
• By 33 days → Hyaloid artery
(from vascular mesenchyme)
• By 5th week → Separation of lens
Vesicle from surface ectoderm.
• By 7th week → Closure of optic fissure
→ Optic canal
• Failure of closure
→ Coloboma.
 THE RETINA
• The optic cup (Neuroectoderm) ⟹
The inner layer ⟶ The inner nine layers of the main retina
The outer layer ⟶ The pigment epithelium.
• The neural ectoderm
secretes ⟹ The vitreous
(Which fills the cavity)
 OUTER FIBROUS AND MIDDLE
VASCULAR LAYERS
• The ciliary body and iris ⟹ Formed by the anterior portion of the optic cup
and mesoderm.
• Mesoderm around the
cup ⟹ Coats of eye, Orbital
structures, Angle of anterior
chamber and main structure of
cornea.
 LENS, CORNEA AND EYELIDS
• The surface ectoderm invaginates and later separates to form the lens.
• The surface ectoderm remains as the corneal and conjunctival epithelium.
• The mesoderm in front of the cornea grows in folds, unites and separates to form
the lids (Also from surface ectoderm)
PRIMORDIA OF OCULAR STRUCTURES
SURFACE ECTODERM MESODERM NEURAL ECTODERM
1. Conjunctival Corneal stroma Sensory retina
epithelium
Corneal epithelium Corneal endothelium Retinal pigment
descemet’s membrane epithelium

Crystalline lens Iris stroma Pigment epithelium of

iris
Eyelash Choroid Ciliary body epithelium
Epithelium of: Sclera Sphincter pupillae

- Meibomian glands Vitreous Dilator pupillae

- Glands of moll Extraocular muscles Melanocytes

- Lacrimal gland Bony orbit

- Accessory lacrimal Ciliary muscles Neural part of optic
 THE EYE AT BIRTH
1. Orbit is more divergent (50°) as compared to an adult (45°).
2. Eyeball is about 70% of adult length (Fully developed at the age of 8 years).
3. The newborn is hypermetropic by +2.5 d.
4. Cornea is approximately 80% of its adult size (Fully grown at the age of 3
years).

5. Anterior chamber is shallow and the angle is narrow

QUIZ
 QUESTION 1
• Which one of the following structures of eye is avascular?
a. Choroid
b. Cornea
c. Conjunctiva
d. Ciliary body
e. Retina

• Answer = B
 QUESTION 2
• Lens develops from:
a. Neural ectoderm
b. Surface ectoderm
c. Optic vesicle
d. All of the above

• Answer = B
 QUESTION 3
• Which one of the following is a function of the ciliary muscle of
the eye?
a. Dilatation of the pupil
b. Constriction of the pupil
c. Accommodation of the lens
d. Draining of aqueous humor
e. Abduction of the eye

• Answer = C
 QUESTION 4
• The action of which muscle cause intorsion and depression of the
eyeball?
a. Superior rectus
b. Superior oblique
c. Inferior rectus
d. Inferior oblique
e. Lateral rectus

• Answer = B
 QUESTION 5
• Regarding anatomy of the eye, true statement is:
a. Conjunctiva is responsible for refraction of light
b. Lens is surrounded by a capsule and suspended by zonules
c. Iris is composed of epithelium and lamina fusca
d. Sclera is a transparent membrane

e. Choroid is avascular structure

• Answer = B
 QUESTION 6
• Retina develops from:
a. Surface ectoderm
b. Mesoderm
c. Optic vesicle
d. Embryonic fissure

• Answer = C
 QUESTION 7
• Regarding ophthalmic artery. Which is true?
a. Give rise superior and inferior ophthalmic arteries
b. It is a branch of the external carotid artery
c. It is a branch of the internal carotid artery
d. Passing through superior orbital fissure
e. Passing through inferior orbital fissure

•Answer = C
 QUESTION 8
• All of the following are parts of orbital medial wall except:
a. Maxillary bone
b. Ethmoidal bone
c. Sphenoidal bone
d. Lacrimal bone

e. Zygomatic bone

• Answer = E
 QUESTION 9
• Tarsal plate is situated in which structure?
a. Eyebrow
b. Orbital cavity
c. Eyelid
d. Lacrimal apparatus

•Answer = C
 QUESTION 10
• Regarding corneal embryology:
A. Development of the cornea precedes separation of the lens cup from surface
ectoderm.
B. The corneal stroma is derived from the surface ectoderm.
C. The epithelium and endothelium are derived from the surface ectoderm.
D. The corneal diameter is determined by the optic cup diameter.

• Answer = D
 QUESTION 11
• All are characteristic of the cornea except:
a. It is transparent membrane
b. It is rich in innervation
c. It is vascular membrane
d. It is composed of 5 layers
e. It is responsible for refraction of the light

• Answer = C
 QUESTION 12
• All of the following true regarding retina except:
a. It is the outermost layer of the eye
b. Contain 10 layers
c. Transform light to electrical signals
d. Contain photorecepters
e. Contain center of vision

• Answer = A
 QUESTION 13
• Muscles controlling pupil arise from:
a. Mesoderm
b. Ectoderm
c. Endoderm
d. None of the above

• Answer = B
 QUESTION 14
OSPE case:
1: Name structures A, B, C and D.
2: Mention the 5 layers of Structure A.
3: What is functions of Structure C?
4: What is the embryological origin
of structure B?

• Answers:
1 = A = Cornea B = Iris C = Lens D = Pupil
2 = Epithelium, bowmans layer, stroma, decsements membrane and endothelium
3 = Accommodation of the eye and refraction of light
 QUESTION 15
OSPE case:
1: Name structures A, B, C and D.
2: What is the origin of structure D and innervation of Structure A?
3: What is the function of Structure C?
4: What is the embryological origin of structures (A, C and D)

• Answers:
1 = A = Superior oblique muscle B = Trochlea
C = Lateral rectus m, D = Inferior rectus m.
2 = Annulus of zinn, Trochlear nerve
3 = Abduction of the eye
THANK YOU