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 

 the 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, ai;d especi- 

 ally so around the limbus. The conjunctiva has the 

 important function of lubrication. The membrane is 

 divided into three distinct portions : Tarsal, which is 

 smooth, and iits the tarsi (the Meibomian follicles may 

 be seen through it) the foi'nix, sinus and cul-de-sao 

 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 jrlobe, and this fact aids in 



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