Aqueous Humor

Definition

Aqueous humor is a clear, watery fluid that fills the space between the cornea and the lens of the eye. It is constantly produced and drained, helping to maintain the shape and pressure of the eye and providing nutrients to the surrounding tissues.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Aqueous humor is continuously produced by the ciliary body and flows through the pupil into the anterior chamber of the eye.
2. The rate of aqueous humor production and drainage helps maintain a healthy intraocular pressure, typically between 12-22 mmHg.
3. Imbalances in aqueous humor production or drainage can lead to conditions like glaucoma, where increased intraocular pressure can damage the optic nerve.
4. Aqueous humor provides oxygen and nutrients to the avascular cornea and lens, supporting their transparency and function.
5. The composition of aqueous humor, including its pH, electrolyte balance, and presence of growth factors, is carefully regulated to support eye health.

Review Questions

• Explain the role of aqueous humor in maintaining the eye's structure and pressure.
  • Aqueous humor plays a crucial role in maintaining the eye's shape and intraocular pressure. It is continuously produced by the ciliary body and flows through the pupil into the anterior chamber, where it helps to preserve the eye's structure and provide nutrients to the surrounding tissues. The balance between aqueous humor production and drainage, regulated by the trabecular meshwork, is essential for maintaining a healthy intraocular pressure, typically between 12-22 mmHg. Imbalances in this process can lead to conditions like glaucoma, where increased pressure can damage the optic nerve.
• Describe how the composition of aqueous humor supports the function and health of the eye.
  • The composition of aqueous humor is carefully regulated to support the eye's health and function. Aqueous humor contains a balance of electrolytes, nutrients, and growth factors that nourish the avascular cornea and lens, maintaining their transparency and enabling proper light refraction. The pH of aqueous humor is also tightly controlled to provide an optimal environment for the surrounding tissues. Additionally, the continuous production and drainage of aqueous humor helps to flush out waste products and regulate intraocular pressure, which is crucial for preserving the eye's structure and preventing damage to the optic nerve.
• Analyze the relationship between aqueous humor and the development of glaucoma.
  • Glaucoma is a condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure, which can lead to optic nerve damage and vision loss. This increased pressure is often caused by an imbalance in the production and drainage of aqueous humor. When the trabecular meshwork, the primary drainage system for aqueous humor, becomes blocked or impaired, the outflow of fluid is reduced, leading to a build-up of pressure within the eye. This sustained high intraocular pressure can then damage the sensitive optic nerve fibers, ultimately resulting in vision impairment. Understanding the critical role of aqueous humor in regulating eye pressure and the potential consequences of imbalances in its production and drainage is essential for the prevention and management of glaucoma.

Related terms

Intraocular Pressure (IOP): The pressure within the eye, maintained by the production and drainage of aqueous humor, that helps preserve the eye's shape and structure.

Ciliary Body: The structure in the eye that produces aqueous humor and controls the shape of the lens for focusing light.

Trabecular Meshwork: The network of tiny channels through which aqueous humor drains from the eye, helping to regulate intraocular pressure.