Anatomy
pupil Audio
pu·pil [ pyoo-puhl ]
Subclass of:
Iris (Eye)
Etymology:
Latin pupilla, diminutive of pupa = a doll or little girl
The application of this term is said to have arisen from the small reflection of objects seen over the opening in the iris.
Definitions related to pupil:
  • Opening at the center of the iris of the eye through which light enters.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • The aperture in the iris through which light passes.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • The dark, circular opening in the middle of the iris of the eye.
    Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
    Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011
  • The round opening in the center of the iris (the colored tissue that makes the eye color at the front of the eye). The pupil changes size to let light into the eye. It gets smaller in bright light and larger as the amount of light decreases.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • The round, central aperture of the eye, surrounded by the iris, through which light enters.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Pupil, in the anatomy of the eye, the opening within the iris through which light passes before reaching the lens and being focused onto the retina. The size of the opening is governed by the muscles of the iris, which rapidly constrict the pupil when exposed to bright light and expand (dilate) the...
    Encyclopedia Britannica
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2025
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.