250 Anatomy of the Rabbit. 



white investment of fibrous connective tissue enclosing the 

 greater part of the eyeball, and a smaller transparent lateral 

 portion, the cornea, covering the exposed surface. 



(b) The vascular tunic (tunica vasculosa oculi) , the thin middle 

 coat of the eye; pigmented, except in albino animals. It is 

 divisible into: (i) a. general portion, the chorioidea, lying on 

 the inner surface of the sclera; (2) a muscular portion, the 

 ciliary body (corpus ciliare) , forming an annular ridge about 

 the periphery of the lens; and (3) the iris, the latter forming 

 a circular fold suspended about the periphery of the lens and 

 on its outer surface. 



(c) The retina, the innermost layer of the eye, forms a thin soft 

 membrane covering the inner surface of the chorioidea. It 

 is divisible in a larger optic portion, the sensory part of the 

 eye, and a smaller ciliary portion, lying about the periphery 

 of the lens and distinguishable by the radiate markings of 

 its surface, the latter formed by the projecting ridges of the 

 ciliary body. 



(d) The transparent lens of the eye 'is suspended by fine fila- 

 ments, the zonular fibres, reflected from the margin of the 

 ciliary body. 



■(e) The vitreous body (corpus.vitreum), a transparent mass, of 



gelatinous consistence, occupies the large space enclosed by 



the lens and the retina. 



(f) The space enclosed between the surface' of the lens and the 



cornea is divisible into a larger portion, the anterior 



chamber (camera oculi anterior), lying outside of the ii'is, 



and a smaller portion, the posterior chamber (camera 



oculi posterior), lying between the iris and the lens. The 



central space enclosed by the free margin of the iris is the 



pupil (pupilla). 



12. Following the removal of the eye, the bloodvessels and 



nerves of the orbit may be freed from the remaining portions of the 



eye muscles and examined. In order to see their connections in the 



anterior angle of the orbit, it is necessary to break away the anterior 



root of the zygomatic arch, and also the bony ridge which lodges the 



alveoli of the posterior cheek-teeth. 



