CHAPTER VI. 



THE CONJUNCTIVA. 



Conjunctiva. — A delicate, fine mucous membrane ; 

 lines the inner surface of the lids. From the lids it is 

 reflected upon the bulbus and extends to the cornea, 

 covering the sclerotic. It is continuous with the 

 cornea. Consists of three layers — external being- 

 epithelial, the intermediate being the proper tissue and 

 tbe subconjunctival tissue. The palpebral conjunc- 

 tiva especially contains numerous lymphatics and 

 glandular structures. The conjunctiva in its reflec- 

 tion from lid to bulbus forms the cul-de-sac or fornix. 

 Highly supplied with nerves from the fifth pair (tri- 

 geminus). Also well furnished with blood, and especi- 

 ally so around the limbus. The conjunctiva has the 

 important function of luhrication. The membrane is 

 divided into three distinct portions : Tarsal, which is 

 smooth, and fits the tarsi (the Meibomian follicles may 

 be seen through it) the fornix, sinus and cul-de-sac 

 being the reverse, loosely attached and easily mov- 

 able, and is dark in color, while the tarsal is of a light 

 yellow; and third, the ocular portion which lies loosely, 



but smoothly, upon the globe, and this fact aids in 

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