anatomy and physiology of conjunctiva

1. CONJUNCTIVA –
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
-AARTHY.M.R.S.

2. CONJUNCTIVA:
It is a thin , semi transparent mucous
membrane that covers the inner surface of the
eyelid and the white part of the eyeball (SCLERA)

3. PARTS OF CONJUNCTIVA:
PALPEBRAL
CONJUNCTIVA
FORNICEAL
CONJUNCTIVA
BULBAR
CONJUNCTIVA

6. PALPEBRAL CONJUNCTIVA:
Covering the lids
Firmly adherent
Highly vascular
Extremely thin
Strongly bound to the
tarsal plate

7. FORNICEAL CONJUNCTIVA:
Covering the lids
Thrown into folds
Transitional region between
palpebral and bulbar conjunvctiva
Superior fornix - 10 mm from limbus
Inferior fornix - 8 mm from limbus
Lateral fornix – 14 mm from limbus
Medially absent

8. BULBAR CONJUNCTIVA:
Covering the eyeball
Thin,translucent and
loosely attached to the
underlying sclera by
TENON’S CAPSULE
Conjunctival limbus 1mm
anterior to corneal limbus

9. EPITHELIUM OF CONJUNCTIVA:
The inner surface of the eyelids and the outer
surface of the eyeball are lined by
STRATIFIED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM containg
goblet cell which secretes mucus

10. At limbus,change into stratified
squamous non-keratinized epithelium
At lid margin,change into stratified
squamous keratinized epithelium
Presence of accessory lacrimal glands
The epithelial layer contains
blood vessels,Fibrous tissue and
lymphatic channel

11. BLOOD SUPPLY:
Anterior conjunctival arteries derived from the
Ant.ciliary arteries
Posterior conjunctival arteries derived from the
Arterial arcade of lids which is formed by palpebral
Branches of nasal and lacrimal arteries of lids
ARTERIAL SUPPLY:
VENOUS DRAINAGE:
Palpebral and ophthalmic veins

13. NERVE SUPPLY:
BULBAR CONJUNCTIVA:
long ciliary nerve
Naso ciliary nerve
Ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve
SUP.PALPEBRAL AND FORNICEAL CONJUNCTIVA:
Frontal and lacrimal branches of
ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve

14. INFERIOR PALPEBRAL AND FORNICEAL
CONJUNCTIVA:
Laterally-lacrimal branches of ophthalmic
division of trigeminal nerve
Medially-infraorbital nerve
maxillary division of trigeminal nerve
SYMPATHETIC:
Superior cervical sympatics to blood vessels

15. LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE:
Lymph vessels are arranged as a deep and
a superficial plexes in submucosa

16. PHYSIOLOGY OF CONJUNCTIVA:
Smooth surface
Secretes mucin and aqueous
component of tear flim
Highly vascular:supplies nutrition
to the peripheral cornea
Aqueous veins drain from ant.chamber
for the maintanence of IOP
Helps to prevent the entry of microbes
into the eye