The mammalian eye Student

The eye is one of the most important sense organs in the human body. It helps the nervous system

gather information about the external _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in order for it to respond adequately

and maintain homeostasis. The wall of the eye is composed of three main layers. The outer layer

is called the _ _ _ _ _ _, it is a strong white coat that protects the eye. The middle layer is called

the _ _ _ _ _ _ _, it is dark in colour because it contains blood vessels that supply the eye with

nutrients and oxygen. The innermost layer is called the _ _ _ _ _ _, it contains photoreceptors

called rods and cones that are important in the production of sight.

As light enters the eye, it is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (bent) towards the pupil by a curved structure called

the _ _ _ _ _ _. Just behind this structure is a clear fluid called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, through

which light will pass to reach the lens. It is the job of the lens to focus light on the retina. In order

to do this the shape of the lens changes according to the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of the object from the eye.

The shape is controlled mainly by the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ muscles and the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ligaments.

Besides distance, the eye also has to adjust according to the amount of light entering the eye.

The _ _ _ _ controls the amount of light entering the pupil. Besides a colourful pigment, the iris is

composed of two layers of muscles called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and _ _ _ _ _ _ muscles. In bright light,

the circular muscles _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and the radial muscles _ _ _ _ _, causing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of

the pupil, in order to reduce the amount of light entering the eye. In dim light the opposite

occurs – the pupil _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to let more light enter.

As light passes through the eyeball, it travels through a jelly like substance called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

humour which maintains the _ _ _ _ _ of the eyeball. Eventually light reaches the retina where it

stimulates the photoreceptors to send impulses through the _ _ _ _ _ nerve towards the occipital

lobe of the brain to be interpreted. The retina has an area that is saturated with cones to see colour

and fine details, this is called the _ _ _ _ _. Where the optic nerve enters the eyeball there is an area

that does not contain any photoreceptors. It is referred to as the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

72 of 92
www.bbsrc.ac.uk
 Crossword Student

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6. 7.

8.

9.

Across o
3. A pigment that detects light . o ha e this i o cannot oc s on ob ects in the
distance
Across
6. Being able to oc s on ob ects hich a e at di e ent
distances om o
Down
. t allo s o to see e e thing b t the e is nothing
3. A pigment that detects light 1.  You
the e have this if you cannot focus on objects
. he m scle that changes the shape o the lens
6. Being able to focus on objects which in the distance
. hese ecepto cells detect colo 3. he change in the di ection o light hen it ente s the
are at different distances from you 2. e It
e allows you to see everything but there
8. The muscle that changes the shape of the lens is
. henothing there
e the ne es and blood essels ente the e e
9. These receptor cells detect colour 3.  
. The change
he g eatest in the direction
concent ation o ofecepto
light when
cells a e o nd
heiteenters the eye
4. . Where
he i is the nerves
does this inand
dimblood
light vessels enter the eye
5. The greatest concentration of receptor cells
are found here
7. The iris does this in dim light

77 of 92
www.bbsrc.ac.uk