The conjunctiva is a thin, semi-transparent mucous membrane that covers the inner surface of the eyelids and the outer surface of the sclera. It has three parts: the palpebral conjunctiva covers the inner eyelid, the forniceal conjunctiva is in the eyelid folds, and the bulbar conjunctiva covers the eyeball. The conjunctiva contains goblet cells that secrete mucus and has blood vessels for nutrition and lymphatic drainage. It helps maintain the tear film and prevents microbes from entering the eye.

1. CONJUNCTIVA –
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
-AARTHY.M.R.S.

2. CONJUNCTIVA:
It is a thin , semi transparent mucous
membrane that covers the inner surface of the
eyelid and the white part of the eyeball (SCLERA)

3. PARTS OF CONJUNCTIVA:
PALPEBRAL
CONJUNCTIVA
FORNICEAL
CONJUNCTIVA
BULBAR
CONJUNCTIVA

6. PALPEBRAL CONJUNCTIVA:
Covering the lids
Firmly adherent
Highly vascular
Extremely thin
Strongly bound to the
tarsal plate

7. FORNICEAL CONJUNCTIVA:
Covering the lids
Thrown into folds
Transitional region between
palpebral and bulbar conjunvctiva
Superior fornix - 10 mm from limbus
Inferior fornix - 8 mm from limbus
Lateral fornix – 14 mm from limbus
Medially absent

8. BULBAR CONJUNCTIVA:
Covering the eyeball
Thin,translucent and
loosely attached to the
underlying sclera by
TENON’S CAPSULE
Conjunctival limbus 1mm
anterior to corneal limbus

9. EPITHELIUM OF CONJUNCTIVA:
The inner surface of the eyelids and the outer
surface of the eyeball are lined by
STRATIFIED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM containg
goblet cell which secretes mucus

10. At limbus,change into stratified
squamous non-keratinized epithelium
At lid margin,change into stratified
squamous keratinized epithelium
Presence of accessory lacrimal glands
The epithelial layer contains
blood vessels,Fibrous tissue and
lymphatic channel

11. BLOOD SUPPLY:
Anterior conjunctival arteries derived from the
Ant.ciliary arteries
Posterior conjunctival arteries derived from the
Arterial arcade of lids which is formed by palpebral
Branches of nasal and lacrimal arteries of lids
ARTERIAL SUPPLY:
VENOUS DRAINAGE:
Palpebral and ophthalmic veins

13. NERVE SUPPLY:
BULBAR CONJUNCTIVA:
long ciliary nerve
Naso ciliary nerve
Ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve
SUP.PALPEBRAL AND FORNICEAL CONJUNCTIVA:
Frontal and lacrimal branches of
ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve

14. INFERIOR PALPEBRAL AND FORNICEAL
CONJUNCTIVA:
Laterally-lacrimal branches of ophthalmic
division of trigeminal nerve
Medially-infraorbital nerve
maxillary division of trigeminal nerve
SYMPATHETIC:
Superior cervical sympatics to blood vessels

15. LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE:
Lymph vessels are arranged as a deep and
a superficial plexes in submucosa

16. PHYSIOLOGY OF CONJUNCTIVA:
Smooth surface
Secretes mucin and aqueous
component of tear flim
Highly vascular:supplies nutrition
to the peripheral cornea
Aqueous veins drain from ant.chamber
for the maintanence of IOP
Helps to prevent the entry of microbes
into the eye