Lens (anatomy)
The crystalline lens is a transparent, biconvex structure in the eye. With the cornea it helps to refract light to be focused on the retina. The lens changes shape. This changes the focal distance of the eye so that it can focus on objects at various distances. This adjustment of the lens is called accommodation. It is similar to the focusing of a photographic camera when it focuses its lenses. The lens is flatter on the inside.
| Lens | |
|---|---|
| File:Focus in an eye.svg Light from a single point of a distant object and light from a single point of a near object being brought to a focus by changing the curvature of the lens. | |
| File:Schematic diagram of the human eye en-edit.png Schematic diagram of the human eye. | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | lens crystallin |
| TH | |
| TE | |
| FMA | |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The lens is also called the aquula (Latin, a little stream, dim. of aqua, water) or crystalline lens. In humans, the refractive power of the lens in its natural environment is approximately 18 dioptres. This is about one-third of the eye's total power.
Lens (anatomy) Media
- Lens3Dmap-SEM4.jpg
3D lens model from sheep with parts labeled and images of cells from different parts overlayed
- Sheep eye lens fixed anterior view.jpg
Sheep eye lens para-formaldehyde fixed front view. Small lenses are about 1cm in diameter. Small bumps at edge are remnants of suspensory ligaments
- Sheep lens fixed ant-post view.jpg
Sheep lens fixed side view. Note the largest lens has damaged capsule and iris attached
- Lens fibre-epithelium-capsule.jpg
Microscope image of lens cell types and capsule
- Decapsulated sheep lens.jpg
Sheep lens capsule removed. Decapsulation leads to a nearly formless blob.
- Micropub-biology-000828.jpg
Eye lens micrographs and diagram of growth region of the capsule.
- In vivo AO 2PFM visualized features of epithelium and fiber cell organization in the mouse lens.jpg
Cellular and supercellular structure in the mouse lens. Photos at increasing depth: A-Epithelium B-Broadening fiber ends C-Fiber ends lock together D-F- Voids G-Vacuoles I-Sutures
- Lens embryogenisis.svg
Similar to a human, this is a lens forming in a chicken eye
- Pattern of lens fibers.jpg
Pattern of lens fibers (anterior and lateral aspect)
- Human lens focusing from side & back views.webm
3D reconstruction of lens in a living 20 year old human male focusing from 0 dioptres (infinity) to 4.85 dioptres (26mm) side & back views
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