Anatomy of the human eye

The human eye works like a highly developed camera: various structures work together perfectly to bundle and focus light and convert it into nerve impulses that the brain interprets as images. A healthy eye is the basis for good vision and quality of life

anatomy of the eye

The most important components of the eye:

  • Cornea: The cornea is the "window" of the eye. It is transparent, slightly curved and covers the front of the eye. Its main function is to focus and refract incoming light.

  • Sclera: The sclera forms the "white" of the eye. It consists of firm connective tissue, protects the eye and gives it its shape.

  • Iris: The iris is the colored part of the eye and regulates the size of the pupil with the help of small muscles. This is how it controls how much light enters the eye.

  • Pupil: The pupil is the central opening in the iris. It adapts to the light conditions: It becomes smaller in bright light and larger in darkness.

  • Lens: The lens lies behind the pupil and is transparent. It changes its shape in order to focus the light onto the retina (accommodation).

  • Zonule fibers: These fine fibers connect the lens to the ciliary body. They hold the lens in position and transmit the force of the ciliary muscle so that the lens can change its shape.

  • Ciliary body and ciliary muscle: They are responsible for changing the shape of the lens and play an important role in accommodation.

  • Vitreous body: The vitreous body is a gel-like substance that fills most of the eyeball and provides stability.

  • Retina: The retina lines the inside of the eye and contains millions of light-sensitive sensory cells (rods and cones). It converts light into electrical signals.

  • Yellow spot (macula): The yellow spot is an oval area in the center of the retina with the highest density of photoreceptors (mainly cones). This is the point of sharpest vision, the fovea centralis. The yellowish coloration is caused by pigments such as lutein and zeaxanthin.

  • Blind spot: The optic nerve emerges from the retina at this point. There are no sensory cells here, so no light can be perceived at this point - a "blind spot" is created.

  • Choroid (choroid): The choroid lies between the sclera and the retina. It is rich in blood vessels and supplies the outer layers of the retina with oxygen and nutrients.

  • Optic nerve: The optic nerve transmits the signals generated by the retina to the brain.

Additional structures:

  • Eye chambers: The anterior and posterior eye chambers are filled with aqueous humor and provide nutrition and pressure equalization.

  • Eye muscles: Six external eye muscles move the eyeball.