Anatomy
cornea Audio
cor·ne·a [ kawr-nee-uh ]
Subclass of:
Anterior eyeball segment
Etymology:
Latin corneus = horny
The cornea of the eye was formerly called the cornea tela, which meant the horny tissue or layer.
Definitions related to cornea:
  • A dome-shaped, transparent, avascular tissue covering the front of the eye. It is composed of five layers: squamous epithelium, Bowman's membrane, stroma, Descemet's membrane, and endothelium. Refraction of light contributing to eye's focusing ability is its characteristic function. It contains unmyelinated nerve endings which are responsible for the high sensitivity of the tissue.
    NCI Thesaurus
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • The clear dome that covers the front of the eye.
    Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
    Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011
  • The transparent anterior portion of the fibrous coat of the eye consisting of five layers: stratified squamous CORNEAL EPITHELIUM; BOWMAN MEMBRANE; CORNEAL STROMA; DESCEMET MEMBRANE; and mesenchymal CORNEAL ENDOTHELIUM. It serves as the first refracting medium of the eye. It is structurally continuous with the SCLERA, avascular, receiving its nourishment by permeation through spaces between the lamellae, and is innervated by the ophthalmic division of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE via the ciliary nerves and those of the surrounding conjunctiva which together form plexuses. (Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed)
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
  • The transparent part of the eye that covers the iris and the pupil and allows light to enter the inside.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • The transparent, avascular tissue covering the front of the eye and is continuous with the sclera.
    CDISC Terminology
    Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC), 2021
  • Transparent part of the coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and admits light to the interior.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • Cornea, dome-shaped transparent membrane about 12 mm (0.5 inch) in diameter that covers the front part of the eye. Except at its margins, the cornea contains no blood vessels, but it does contain many nerves and is very sensitive to pain or touch. It is nourished and provided with oxygen anteriorly...
    Encyclopedia Britannica
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
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