STRUCTURE OF THE EYELIDS. 



441 



Several years ago Strieker observed spontaneous contractions 

 in the capillary bloodvessels of such nictitating membranes. 

 The statement, however, has not been corroborated by any 

 other observer. 



The integument both of the upper and of the lower lid is 

 thinner than that of the face, and easily moveable on the 

 subjacent tissue. The epidermis is composed of a thin corneal 

 layer and a rete Malpighii, formed of several layers of poly bed ric 



. Fig. 394. 



I m 



Fig. 394. Vertical section through the lid of a new-born child, as 

 seen with a Hartnack's microscope, ocul. 3, obj. 2. a, Epithelium of the 

 free margin of the lids ; 6, epithelium of the conjunctiva palpebrarum ; 

 c, epidermis of the skin of the lid ; d, portio Riolani ; e, cilium ; /, cutis ; 

 </, musculus sphincter orbiculus ; h, Meibomian glands ; i, connective 

 tissue between the Meibomian glands and the epithelium ; k, excre- 

 tory ducts of the Meibomian glands ; I, hairs ; m, sebaceous glands ; 

 n, sudoriparous glands. 



cells. The corium in the new-born child presents only a few 

 small and irregular papillae, but in the adult the papilla are 

 well developed, and contain vascular loops. It is composed of 



