430 NORMAL HISTOLOGY AND ORGANOGRAPHY. 



held together by a small amount of cement sub- 

 stance. 



The suspensory ligament connects the capsule of the 

 lens with the epithelium of the ciliary body and the 

 hyaloid membrane of the vitreous humor. From 

 this point the fibers pass forward and inward to be- 

 come inserted into the capsule of the lens. The in- 

 sertion occupies a wide zone at the equator of the 

 lens, which reaches some distance on the anterior and 

 posterior surfaces. Between these fibers there is 

 consequently a canal around the lens, divided by 

 septa, the canal of Petit, which communicates by 

 minute openings with the anterior chamber. 



3. The vitreous humor fills the chamber of the eye 

 back of the lens. It is a transparent tissue that 

 contains about 98 per cent, of fluid substance and 

 fine interlacing fibers, as well as a few connective- 

 tissue cells and leucocytes. Toward the surface the 

 fibers are more densely arranged, forming the hyaloid 

 membrane which encloses the entire vitreous body. 

 The origin of the vitreous humor has been described 

 in connection with the developmental history of the 

 eye. 



BLOOD-VESSELS OF THE EYE. 

 The arteries of the choroid are derived from the 

 short posterior ciliary, the long ciliary, and the an- 

 terior ciliary arteries. The short posterior penetrate 

 the sclera in the vicinity of the optic nerve, and 

 supply blood to the choroid of that region. These 

 arteries also anastomose with branches from the 

 retinal vessels. The long posterior ciliary penetrates 



