The structure of corpuscular nerve endings in the limbal conjunctiva of the human eye. 1991

J G Lawrenson, and G L Ruskell
Vision Research Centre, Department of Optometry and Visual Science, London.

Corpuscular nerve endings were found to be numerous within a narrow, 1.00 mm wide, annular zone of limbal conjunctiva, located approximately 0.5 mm from the corneoscleral margin. A light and electron microscopic study was carried out on these nerve endings found within samples of human eye-bank material. Corpuscular endings were found immediately under the epithelium, often within the stromal elevations which make up the limbal palisades of Vogt. They were round to oval in shape, and varied in size, with a mean maximum diameter of 30 microns. The afferent nerve fibre lost its myelin sheath soon after entry, and subsequently branched to give rise to a variable number of axon terminal varicosities, which were characterised by an accumulation of mitochondria. Neural elements within the nerve ending were invested by the cytoplasmic lamellae of Schwann-like accessory cells. The corpuscle was demarcated from the surrounding connective tissue by a delicate fibrocyte capsule. The corpuscular nerve endings described here in the conjunctiva share features common to corpuscles found in other mucosae. The function of such complex sensory nerve endings is as yet unknown, but the possibility that they represent receptors for particular sensory modalities should be explored.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D009411 Nerve Endings Branch-like terminations of NERVE FIBERS, sensory or motor NEURONS. Endings of sensory neurons are the beginnings of afferent pathway to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Endings of motor neurons are the terminals of axons at the muscle cells. Nerve endings which release neurotransmitters are called PRESYNAPTIC TERMINALS. Ending, Nerve,Endings, Nerve,Nerve Ending
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001369 Axons Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body. Axon
D012583 Schwann Cells Neuroglial cells of the peripheral nervous system which form the insulating myelin sheaths of peripheral axons. Schwann Cell,Cell, Schwann,Cells, Schwann
D016850 Limbus Corneae An annular transitional zone, approximately 1 mm wide, between the cornea and the bulbar conjunctiva and sclera. It is highly vascular and is involved in the metabolism of the cornea. It is ophthalmologically significant in that it appears on the outer surface of the eyeball as a slight furrow, marking the line between the clear cornea and the sclera. (Dictionary of Visual Science, 3d ed) Corneal Limbus,Corneoscleral Junction,Sclerocorneal Limbus,Corneoscleral Junctions,Junction, Corneoscleral,Junctions, Corneoscleral,Limbus, Corneal,Limbus, Sclerocorneal

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