The transparent anterior portion of the fibrous coat of the eye consisting of five layers: stratified squamous CORNEAL EPITHELIUM; BOWMAN MEMBRANE; CORNEAL STROMA; DESCEMET MEMBRANE; and mesenchymal CORNEAL ENDOTHELIUM. It serves as the first refracting medium of the eye. It is structurally continuous with the SCLERA, avascular, receiving its nourishment by permeation through spaces between the lamellae, and is innervated by the ophthalmic division of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE via the ciliary nerves and those of the surrounding conjunctiva which together form plexuses. (Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed)

Annotation

inflammation = KERATITIS; neoplasms = CORNEAL DISEASES (IM) + EYE NEOPLASMS (IM) + histological type of neoplasm (IM); /anat: consider CORNEAL TOPOGRAPHY

DUI

D003315 MeSH Browser

CUI

M0005176

Consider also

consider also terms at KERAT-

History note

/transplantation was CORNEAL TRANSPLANTATION 1963-65; was CORNEA/transplantation 1966-89

Public note

/transplantation was CORNEAL TRANSPLANTATION 1963-65; was CORNEA/transplantation 1966-89