The conjunctiva is a thin mucous membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the sclera of the eye. It has several parts: the palpebral conjunctiva lines the inner eyelid, the bulbar conjunctiva covers the sclera, and the fornix joins the two. It contains goblet cells that secrete mucus to lubricate the eye and glands that further supplement tear production. Blood vessels in the conjunctiva deliver nutrients and immune cells to protect the eye surface. Nerves innervate the conjunctiva for sensation from the trigeminal nerve and cervical sympathetic nerves regulate blood vessels.

1. Anatomy of Conjunctiva
Kanwal Perveen Jamali
M.Phil (Vision Sciences)

2. Conjunctiva: Thin, transparent,
mucous membrane lining the
posterior aspect of eye lid &
anterior aspect of eye ball.
Latin : conjoin – to join ( it joins the
eye ball to the eye lid )

3. Conjunctiva
Palpebral
Conjunctiva
Marginal Tarsal Orbital
Bulbar
Conjunctiva
Scleral Limbal
Conjunctival
Fornix

4. Parts of
conjunctiva

5. Palpebral
Conjunctiva
Marginal
Tarsal
Orbital

6. 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
Lacrimal puncta open in the marginal zone

7. • Firmly adherent to the tarsal plate
• Thin+transparent+highly vascular structure
Meibomian glands appear as yellow streaks
through the tarsal conjunctiva

8. 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
Shallow grooves and elevations are called
Stieda’s plateaux and grooves

9. Scleral
Bulbar Conjunctiva
• Limballimbal

10. 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. 3mm ridge around the cornea
Conjunctiva, Tenon’s capsule and episcleral
tissue are fused together
Strongly adherent to sclero-corneal junction

12. Joins the bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva
Ducts of the lacrimal gland open into the
lateral part of superior fornix

13. Epithelium
Adenoid
Layer
Substantia
Propria
Fibrous
Layer

14. 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

15. Epithelium:
• Stratified columnar epithelium 2 – 5 cells.
• At limbus change into stratified squamous non keratinized
epithelium.
• At lid margin non keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
changes into keratinized stratified squamous epithelium.
• Goblet cell – mucus.
• Accessory lacrimal glands.

16. 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
Adenoid Layer:

17. Has Collagenous fibres + Elastic fibres
Thicker than adenoid layer except in the
Tarsal Conjunctiva
Lodges the Conjunctival vessels and nerves
Fibers layer:

18. Mucin Glands
Goblet Cells
Henle’s
Glands
Glands of
Manz
Accessory
Lacrimal Glands
Glands of
Krause
Glands of
Wolfring
accessory
lacrimal
glands
(ALGs)

19. Unicellular round or oval mucous glands
Absent in the Marginal & Limbal conjunctiva
These cells are destroyed after discharging
the contents
Goblet Cells:

20. Numerous on nasal
side
High in children
and young adults

21. 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
Henle’s Gland

22. Located in the scleral conjunctiva
Arranged in a ring around the cornea, near
the scleral junction
Gland of Manz

23. Mucin Glands

24. 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

25. 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.
Gland of krause:

26. 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
Gland of wolfring:

28. Function:
• The blood vessels within the conjunctiva deliver blood to
the ocular surface, and so provide nutritional support and
when necessary substances that help fight infection.
• It also secretes sticky mucins, some of which remain
anchored to the ocular surface and improve its wettability
so it is able to support overlying tears, and some that
thicken the tear film so it is better able to lubricate the
eye to prevent frictional trauma during eye movements
and when blinking.

29. Marginal Tarsal Arcade
Peripheral Tarsal Arcade
Anterior Ciliary Arteries

30. Nervesupply- Sensory
• Bulbar conjunctiva – long ciliary nerves – nasociliary N.
– Ophthalmic division of trigeminalN.
• 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 trigeminalN.
Sympathetic;
• Superior cervical sympathetics to bloodvessels.

31. Thank You