THE ORGANS OF SPECIAL SENSE 2 59 



The Meibomian glands are embedded in the sub- 

 stance of the cartilages, and are distinctly seen on examin- 

 ing the inner aspect of the lids. They have the appear- 

 ance of a string of pearls, and are about thirty in number 

 in the upper cartilage, and somewhat fewer in the lower; 

 they open by minute foramina on the edges of the lids. 

 (See p. 245.) 



The edges of the eyelids are provided with a row of 

 long, thick hairs (eyelashes) that curve upward from the 



FlG. 136. Right eye from before, the eyelids separated by hooks : Ps, 

 Plica semilunaris; Pis, Pli, superior and inferior lacrimal puncta; Car, 

 lacrimal caruncle ; Lpm, internal tarsal ligament. 



upper lid and downward from the lower, so as not to inter- 

 lace with one another when the eyelids close. 



The conjunctiva is the mucous membrane of the eye. 

 It covers the whole anterior surface, with the exception of 

 the cornea, which it, however, provides with an epithelial 

 layer, and is reflected backward, upward, and downward 

 upon the lids so as to form their internal layer. 



The caruncula lacrimalis is a small, reddish body 

 that occupies the inner canthus of the eye. In health it 

 presents a bright-pink tint ; in sickness it loses its color and 

 becomes pale. 



