Conjunctiva: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:31, 18 February 2025

Mucous membrane that covers the front of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids

The conjunctiva is a thin, transparent mucous membrane that plays a crucial role in the protection and function of the eye. It covers the front part of the sclera and lines the inside of the eyelids.

Anatomy

The conjunctiva is divided into three parts:

Palpebral conjunctiva: This part lines the inside of the eyelids. It is firmly attached to the tarsal plates and is highly vascularized.
Bulbar conjunctiva: This portion covers the anterior part of the sclera and is loosely attached to the underlying tissue, allowing for free movement of the eyeball.
Fornix conjunctiva: This is the junction between the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, forming a loose fold that allows for the movement of the eyeball and eyelids.

Function

The conjunctiva serves several important functions:

Protection: It acts as a barrier against dust, microorganisms, and other foreign particles.
Lubrication: The conjunctiva produces mucus and tears, which help to keep the eye moist and facilitate smooth movement of the eyelids over the eyeball.
Immune defense: It contains immune cells that help to detect and fight infections.

Clinical Significance

The conjunctiva can be affected by various conditions, including:

Conjunctivitis: Also known as "pink eye," this is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, often caused by infections, allergies, or irritants.
Subconjunctival hemorrhage: This occurs when a small blood vessel breaks under the conjunctiva, leading to a red patch on the white of the eye.
Pterygium: A benign growth of the conjunctiva that can extend onto the cornea, potentially affecting vision.

Images

File:Conjunctiva diagram.png

Diagram of the conjunctiva showing its three parts: palpebral, bulbar, and fornix.

A case of conjunctivitis showing redness and swelling of the conjunctiva.

Related pages

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Conjunctiva''' is a thin, clear, moist membrane that covers the inner surface of the eyelids and the white part of the eye, known as the [[sclera]]. It helps to lubricate the eye by producing mucus and tears, although it produces a much smaller amount than the [[lacrimal gland]]. It also helps to prevent the entrance of microbes into the eye.
+{{Short description|Mucous membrane that covers the front of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids}}
-== Anatomy ==
+The '''conjunctiva''' is a thin, transparent mucous membrane that plays a crucial role in the protection and function of the [[eye]]. It covers the front part of the [[sclera]] and lines the inside of the [[eyelids]].
+==Anatomy==
 The conjunctiva is divided into three parts:
-# '''Palpebral conjunctiva''': This lines the inner surface of the eyelids.
+* '''Palpebral conjunctiva''': This part lines the inside of the eyelids. It is firmly attached to the tarsal plates and is highly vascularized.
-# '''Bulbar conjunctiva''': This covers the anterior part of the sclera (the white of the eye).
+* '''Bulbar conjunctiva''': This portion covers the anterior part of the sclera and is loosely attached to the underlying tissue, allowing for free movement of the eyeball.
-# '''Fornix conjunctiva''': This is the transition part that folds back onto itself and connects the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva.
+* '''Fornix conjunctiva''': This is the junction between the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, forming a loose fold that allows for the movement of the eyeball and eyelids.
-== Function ==
+==Function==
+The conjunctiva serves several important functions:
-The conjunctiva plays a key role in serving as a barrier to protect the eye from external threats such as microbes and dust. It does this by producing mucus and tears which help to wash away debris. The conjunctiva also contains cells that produce components of the immune system, such as lymphocytes.
+* '''Protection''': It acts as a barrier against dust, microorganisms, and other foreign particles.
+* '''Lubrication''': The conjunctiva produces mucus and tears, which help to keep the eye moist and facilitate smooth movement of the eyelids over the eyeball.
+* '''Immune defense''': It contains immune cells that help to detect and fight infections.
-== Diseases and Conditions ==
+==Clinical Significance==
+The conjunctiva can be affected by various conditions, including:
-There are several diseases and conditions that can affect the conjunctiva, including:
+* '''[[Conjunctivitis]]''': Also known as "pink eye," this is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, often caused by infections, allergies, or irritants.
+* '''Subconjunctival hemorrhage''': This occurs when a small blood vessel breaks under the conjunctiva, leading to a red patch on the white of the eye.
+* '''Pterygium''': A benign growth of the conjunctiva that can extend onto the cornea, potentially affecting vision.
-# '''[[Conjunctivitis]]''': This is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, often referred to as "pink eye".
+==Images==
-# '''[[Pterygium]]''': This is a non-cancerous growth that develops on the conjunctiva and can grow onto the cornea.
+[[File:Conjunctiva_diagram.png|thumb|right|Diagram of the conjunctiva showing its three parts: palpebral, bulbar, and fornix.]]
-# '''[[Dry eye syndrome]]''': This occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears for adequate lubrication.
-== Treatment ==
+[[File:Conjunctivitis.jpg|thumb|left|A case of conjunctivitis showing redness and swelling of the conjunctiva.]]
-Treatment for conjunctival conditions depends on the specific disease or condition. Conjunctivitis, for example, is usually treated with antibiotic eye drops. Pterygium may require surgical removal if it interferes with vision. Dry eye syndrome can often be managed with artificial tears or medications to stimulate tear production.
-== See Also ==
+==Related pages==
 * [[Eye]]
+* [[Sclera]]
 * [[Cornea]]
-* [[Sclera]]
+* [[Eyelid]]
-* [[Lacrimal gland]]
-[[Category:Anatomy]]
 [[Category:Ophthalmology]]
-[[Category:Medicine]]
+[[Category:Anatomy of the eye]]
-{{stub}}
-{{dictionary-stub1}}
-<gallery>
-File:Gray883.png|Conjunctiva
-File:Gray869.png|Conjunctiva
-File:Beccas_Oga.JPG|Conjunctiva
-File:Hyperemia_conjunctiva.jpg|Conjunctiva
-File:Gray893.png|Conjunctiva
-File:Slide2|Conjunctiva
-</gallery>