Eye

Uvea (iris, choroid and ciliary body), limbus and sclera

Iris



Last author update: 1 February 2014
Last staff update: 24 December 2020

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PubMed Search: Iris [title] eye review[ptyp]

Nat Pernick, M.D.
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Cite this page: Pernick N. Iris. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/eyeuveairisgeneral.html. Accessed March 29th, 2024.
Definition / general
  • Thin diaphragm of tissue with central opening (pupil)
  • Forms boundary of anterior and posterior chamber
  • Highly textured with folds and crypts
  • Part of middle layer of eye (also ciliary body and choroid)
  • Normally rests gently upon lens and bulges slightly forward
  • Consists of stroma and posterior epithelial lining (two closely apposed epithelial layers, with numerous melanosomes); contains sphincter muscle within stroma that controls pupil
  • Anterior iris lacks a cellular lining
  • Color is due to number of stromal melanocytes; blue irises have few stromal melanocytes; brown irises have numerous melanocytes
  • Blood vessels are usually surrounded by a thick collar of collagen fibers, resembling arteriolosclerosis
  • Fewer melanosomes and melanocytes in patients with ocular and oculocutaneous albinism
  • Regulates amount of light reaching pupil; muscles of iris dilate or constrict pupil in response to parasympathetic or sympathetic nerve impulses; normal diameter of pupil is 1 - 8 mm
  • Iridectomy: excision of small segment of iris; place on filter paper to avoid folding
  • Ectropion uveae: fibrovascular tissue on anterior surface of iris everts the papillary margin and pulls pigmented epithelia onto anterior surface of iris
Drawings

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Iris: front view

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Choroid and iris

Microscopic (histologic) images

AFIP images
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Iris and ciliary body with open anterior chamber angle

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Normal iris



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Iris and lens

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