Chapter 14: Animal Receptor Organs (Eye)

Students should be able to:

1. Describe the gross structure of the eye as seen from the front and
horizontal views.
2. State the principal functions of component parts of the eye in
producing a focused image of near and distant objects on the
retina.
3. Describe pupil reflex in response to bright and dim light.

14.1 Structure Of The Mammalian Eye

14.1.1 Front View

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14.1.2 Vertical Section

14.1.3 Photoreceptors
• Contain Visual Purple  Pigment
for vision in dim light

14.2 The Mammalian Brain • Concerned with bright light &

colour vision
14.2.1 Structure

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14.1.4 Functions of components of the eye

Component Functions
Eyelid Blinking movements spreads tears over eye surface  keep
conjunctiva clean
Eyelash Traps dust particles in the air
Tear gland Secrete tears which is antibacterial fluid and lubricate conjunctiva
Tear duct Drain excess tears away from the eyes
Conjunctiva Thin, transparent membrane that protects the front of eye
Cornea Transparent layer which is continuous with sclera that bends light
towards lens (refraction)
Sclera Protects eyeball against mechanical injury
Choroid Pigmented black to prevent internal reflection of light rays
Retina Light-sensitive layer containing (i) cones and (ii) rods
Iris Controls the amount of light entering the eye
Pupil Opening to allow light to enter the eye
Lens Focuses light rays onto the retina (refraction)
Suspensory Holds lens in place and attaches it to the ciliary muscles
Ligaments
Ciliary muscles Enables lens to change its shape (curvature) by contracting/relaxing
Aqueous Refract (bends) light rays; keeps eyeball firm
humour
Vitreous Refract (bends) light rays; keeps eyeball firm
humour
Fovea Part of retina that is most sensitive to light  gives clearest vision
when images are focused on it
Blind spot Region over optic nerve with no photoreceptor  no vision when
image falls on it
Optic nerve Transmit impulses from photoreceptors to brain
Rectus muscle Movement of eyeball

Far/Distant Objects

Convex Lens  Convergent Light

Concave Lens  Divergent Light
rays  Real image formed
rays  No Real image formed

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 Near Objects

14.2 Vision & Image Focus 3. Lens makes fine bending adjustment by changing its
curvature to focus the light ways
4. Image formed on
retina is
• Real
(captured on
screen)
• Diminished
(smaller than
actual object)
• Inverted

1. Reflected rays from object

go through pupil
5. Photoreceptor on retina produce
impulses  travel to optic nerve  2. Rays are refracted (bent) by
to brain • Cornea
• Aqueous humour
6. Brain interprets impulses and • Lens
see object as the right way up • Vitreous humour

14.1.5 Image Focusing / Accommodation

• An adjustment of the curvature of the lens so that clear images
at different distances is formed on the retina
• Concept of Near Point
o Point where object is so close that the ciliary muscles
contract fully  lens become most convex
o Any images that are nearer to the eye than this point
would appear blurred  lens cannot be further adjusted

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14.1.6 Focusing for Far Vision (Distance ≥ 7m)

Change in
lens
curvature

Change in
lens’ focal
length

Elastic lens

14.1.7 Focusing for Near Vision

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14.2 Pupil Reflex in response to bright/dim light (Front view)

Involuntary muscles of
the iris Control Control
diameter of amount of light
pupil entering the
eye

Involuntary Reflex Action

Flow of events

In Bright Light In Dim Light

Photoreceptors on retina Photoreceptors on retina

detect high light intensity detect low light intensity

Impulses travel along optic Impulses travel along optic

nerve to brain nerve to brain

Circular muscles of iris Circular muscles of iris relax

contracts

Radial muscles of iris relax Radial muscles of iris

contracts 6
Pupil diameter decreases  Pupil diameter increases 
less light enters more light enters