6. Marginal Conjunctiva
Extends from the lid margin ( opening of tarsal gland )
to the sulcus subtarsalis
Sulcus subtarsalis
Marks the inferior edge of the tarsal plate
Shallow groove situated 2mm from lid margin
It is actually a transitional zone between skin and the
conjunctiva proper.
7. Tarsal Conjunctiva
Firmly adherent to the tarsal plate
Thin+transparent+highly vascular structure
Meibomian glands appear as yellow streaks through
the tarsal conjunctiva
8. Orbital Conjunctiva
Extends from the upper border of the tarsal plate to
the fornix
Loosely attached to the superior tarsal muscle
[Müller’s muscle] and so folds readily
10. Scleral Conjunctiva
Thin, transparent & loosely attached to underlying
sclera
Permits the visualization of Conjunctival and
episcleral vessels
Separated from the sclera by episcleral vessels and
Tenon’s capsule
11. Limbal Conjunctiva
3mm ridge around the cornea
Conjunctiva, Tenon’s capsule and episcleral tissue are
fused together
Strongly adherent to sclero-corneal junction
12. Conjunctival Fornix
Joins the bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva
Ducts of the lacrimal gland open into the lateral part
of superior fornix
15. Conjunctiva Number of layers Cells in the layers
Marginal
5 layered non-keratinised stratified
squamous epithelium
Superficial layer: Squamous cells
Middle three layers: Polyhedral cells
Deepest layer: Cylindrical cells
Tarsal and Orbital
2 layers of Stratified cuboidal
epithelium
Superficial layer: Cylindrical cells
Deepest layer: cuboidal cells
Fornix and Scleral
3 layers of Stratified, squamous
epithelium
Superficial layer: Cylindrical cells
Middle layer: polyhedral cells
Deepest layer: Cuboidal cells
Limbal
10 layers of stratified squamous
epithelium
Superficial layer: squamous cells
Middle layer: polygonal cells
Basal- cubical
16.
17. Also called Lymphoid layer
Consists of fine connective tissue reticulum in the
meshwork of which lies the lymphocytes
Not present at birth , develops after 2-3 months of life
18. Has Collagenous fibres + Elastic fibres
Thicker than adenoid layer except in the Tarsal
Conjunctiva
Lodges the Conjunctival vessels and nerves
22. Not true glands
Tubular structure which contains a few goblet cells
Present in the folds of mucous membrane present in
palpebral conjunctiva between tarsal plate & fornices
Resembles the Crypts of Lieberkuhn in large intestine
23. Located in the scleral conjunctiva
Arranged in a ring around the cornea, near
the scleral junction
25. Provide a hydrophilic layer that allows for even
distribution of the tear film
Ensures tear film stability by reducing the surface
tension
Provides lubrication and protects the epithelial cells of
cornea and conjunctiva
26. Lie in deep sub - conjunctival tissue of the upper and
lower fornices
42 in number in upper fornix and 6 to 8 in lower fornix
In upper fornix they lie between the palpebral part of
the lacrimal gland and tarsal plate.
27. Also called Glands of Ciaccio, larger than Glands of
Krause
Situated in the upper border of the tarsus midway
between the end of the tarsal glands
2 to 5 in the upper lid and 1-3 in the lower lid
32. The veins from the conjunctiva drain into the
venous plexuses of eyelids which in turn drain
into the superior or inferior ophthalmic veins.
A circumcorneal zone of veins about 5-6 mm
from the limbus drain into the anterior ciliary
veins.
33. Lymphatics from the lateral
side drain into preauricular
lymph nodes and those from
the medial side into the
submandibular lymph
nodes.
34. • Bulbar conjunctiva – long ciliary nerves – naso ciliary N.-
Ophthalmic division of trigeminal N.
•Superior palpebral and forniceal conjunctiva – frontal and
lacrimal branches of Ophthalmic division of trigeminal N.
•Inferior palpebral and forniceal conjunctiva – laterally from
lacrimal branches of Ophthalmic division of trigeminal N. and
medially infraorbital N. – maxillary division of trigeminal N.
