MCW 215 – Eye, Monkey

iris

eyelid lens

Fovea
(indentation)

Ciliary processes
cornea Ciliary body
Muscle of
orbicularis oculi
(palpebral part)

Meibomian glands
 MCO 0046
cornea

Anterior
Lens “shattered” from
compartment
histological preparation

Vitreous compartment

Optic nerve
iris

Ciliary body
 There are five distinguishable corneal layers. (p. 91)
Various notes:
-Bowman’s membrane is the basement membrane of the anterior epithelial layer.
-Descemet’s membrane is the basement membrane of the endothelium.
-Lamina propria - thickest layer (90% of the cornea) consists of regularly arranged lamellae of collagen
fibrils (type I collagen), fibrocytes, and amorphous ground substance (mostly keratin and chondroitin
sulfates).

Epithelium (outermost; stratified squamous)

Bowman’s
membrane

Lamina propria

Descemet’s
membrane

Endothelium
(simple
squamous)
 Iris layers
Anterior limiting
layer

stroma

Pigmented
layer

Anterior limiting layer - Anterior surface of the iris covered with fenestrated layer of fibroblasts
Stromal layer – middle region containing pigmented cells
Posterior epithelium – layer of highly pigmented epithelial cells (p. 91)
Iris (low mag)

Sphincter pupillae muscle

 MCW215

Ciliary processes
Zonules of Zinn (attach to the
suspensory ligaments of the
lens)

NOTE: cilary body runs around Ciliary body – blood vessels in here produce
circumference of eye (like iris) aqueous humor that is actively transported into
the posterior chamber
 -aqueous humor circulates in the anterior chamber
and is drained by channels near the junction of
cornea, iris, and sclera (junction called iridio-corneal
angle)
-These channels drain into the canal of Schlemm
and ultimately into scleral veins (p. 90)

cornea

Canal of
Schlemm

iris

sclera ciliary
body
 MCW 215

Sclera

Retinal layer Choroid (has a heavy pigmented layer to

absorb scattered light
 MCO 0046

Sclera

Retinal layer Choroid

Cell bodies (nuclei)
of photoreceptors

Photoreceptors extend
these 3 layers
 (1) Retinal 2 layers may not be well seen:
Retina – 10 layers
pigmented (layer 3) - external limiting membrane
epithelium
(6) Inner (layer 10) -internal limiting membrane
(RPE)
nuclear layer Muller cells (support cells analogous to glial cells)
(2) photoreceptor layer attached to the above two layers

NOTE: “inner” and

“outer” named w/
respect to eyeball

(9) Optic nerve

fiber layer

NOTE: cannot tell

(5) Outer plexiform
(8) Ganglion cell layer difference between rods
(7) Inner (4) Outer nucelar and cones in routine
layer
plexiform layer layer histological stains
Retinal layers (p. 92)
• Retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE)
• Photoreceptor layer – light-staining; consists of outer and inner segments of rod
and cone cells
• External limiting membrane – thin layer that may be difficult to see; found at
external ends of Muller cells (supporting cells of retina) where they form tight
junctions between themselves as they encircle the photoreceptors.
• Outer nuclear layer – has nuclei of rods and cones
• Outer plexiform layer – light-staining layer; where photoreceptors synapse with
dendrites of bipolar cells and horizontal cells
• Inner nuclear layer – dark staining; has nuclei of (i) horizontal cells, (ii) bipolar
cells, (iii) amacrine cells, and (iv) Muller cells
• Inner plexiform layer – light staining; has synapses between amacrine cells and
retinal ganglion cells
• Ganglion cell layer – has retinal ganglion cell bodies
• Optic nerve fiber layer – light staining; has axons of ganglion cells (that leave and
synapse with CNS)
• Internal limiting membrane – composed of basement membrane of Muller cells
at its junction with the vitreous body
1
2
3
4

8
9
10
Fovea centralis –
ganglion cells
thin out
 Lens – p. 92

External iris
capsule of
lens (type IV
collagen)

Epithelium
(cuboidal) of lens

Lens fibers
Optic Nerve Head – MCO 0122

Retinal
layers
 MCW 216 - cochlea
The large spiraling channel of the
cochlea is subdivided into three
parallel canals (or scala) by the walls
of the membranous labyrinth. Each of
these channels contains fluid.
a) Scala vestibuli (contains perilymph)
b) Scala tympani (contains perilymph)
c) Scala media (bounded by walls of
membranous labyrinth – contains
endolymph)
p. 93-4

Modiolus – the central

bony axis that the
channels spirals
around
 Scala vestibuli

Osseous
spiral lamina
Reisner’s membrane (medial
(boundary between scala attachment of
vestibuli and scala media) scala media)

Scala media
(a.k.a. cochlear
duct) Spiral ganglion –
cells

Spiral ligament (peripheral

Basilar membrane Scala tympani
attachment of scala media
to osseous labyrinth)
 Organ of Corti

Stria vascularis –
vascular epithelium that
produces endolymph;
overlies lateral wall of
scala media (cochlear
duct) –p. 94

Basilar membrane
Spiral ganglion cells – situated
within the modiolus
 Reissner’s
Membrane
Stria
vascularis
Scala Vestibuli

Scala Media

Scala Tympani

Basilar
Membrane
Organ of Corti

Tectorial membrane – where tips

The sensory hair cells (inner
of hair cells are embedded (may be
one row; outer three rows) are artifactually bent away from hair
embedded among the cells)
phalangeal cells
1 hair cell
-p. 94 nucleus (inner)
3 nuclei of hair cells
(outer)

3 nuclei of
Pillar cell (form walls
phalangeal
Tunnel of of tunnel of Corti)
cells
Corti
NOTE: The inner hair cells
are closest to the modiolus
 MCW 217 – crista ampullaris

Crista ampullaris
(see next slide)
 Crista ampullaris – the raised transverse ridge of the ampulla of each
semicircular duct

Cupula (gelatinous glycoprotein)

– where apical surface of the
sensory hair cells insert
Hair cells and support cells (cannot
distinguish the two here)

Axons of Scarpa’s
ganglion entering
Crista ampullaris (NOTE: flipped
compared to other slide)

Hair cells and support cells