The vitreous membrane (or
hyaloid
A hyaline substance is one with a glassy appearance. The word is derived from el, ὑάλινος, translit=hyálinos, lit=transparent, and el, ὕαλος, translit=hýalos, lit=crystal, glass, label=none.
Histopathology
Hyaline cartilage is ...
membrane or vitreous cortex) is a layer of
collagen
Collagen () is the main structural protein in the extracellular matrix found in the body's various connective tissues. As the main component of connective tissue, it is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up from 25% to 35% of the whole ...
separating the
vitreous humour
The vitreous body (''vitreous'' meaning "glass-like"; , ) is the clear gel that fills the space between the lens and the retina of the eyeball (the vitreous chamber) in humans and other vertebrates. It is often referred to as the vitreous humor ...
from the rest of the
eye. At least two parts have been identified anatomically. The posterior hyaloid membrane separates the rear of the vitreous from the
retina
The retina (from la, rete "net") is the innermost, light-sensitive layer of tissue of the eye of most vertebrates and some molluscs. The optics of the eye create a focused two-dimensional image of the visual world on the retina, which then ...
. It is a false anatomical membrane. The anterior hyaloid membrane separates the front of the vitreous from the
lens
A lens is a transmissive optical device which focuses or disperses a light beam by means of refraction. A simple lens consists of a single piece of transparent material, while a compound lens consists of several simple lenses (''elements''), ...
.
[
Andres Bernal, Jean-Marie Parel, Fabrice Manns]
Evidence for posterior zonular fiber attachment on the anterior hyaloid membrane
"Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science" 2006, 47, 4708-4713.
Bernal et al. describe it "as a delicate structure in the form of a thin layer that runs from the
pars plana
The ''pars plana'' (also known as ''orbicularis ciliaris'' ) (Latin: flat portion) is part of the ciliary body in the uvea (or vascular tunic), the middle layer of the three layers that comprise the eye.
It is about 4 mm long, located near t ...
to the posterior lens, where it shares its attachment with the
posterior zonule
Posterior may refer to:
* Posterior (anatomy), the end of an organism opposite to its head
** Buttocks, as a euphemism
* Posterior horn (disambiguation)
* Posterior probability, the conditional probability that is assigned when the relevant evidenc ...
via
Weigert's ligament, also known as
Egger's line".
References
External links
Image at ivy-rose.co.uk
Human eye anatomy
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