Biomaterial Database

Congenital epithelialization of the posterior cornea. 1976

B L Johnson, and S I Brown

A 6-month-old infant boy who had a unilateral congenital corneal opacification with adhesions of abnormal iris to the posterior cornea underwent corneal transplantation. Pathologic examination of the excised cornea showed a central defect in Bowman's layer, an absent Descemet's membrane, and multilayered squamous epithelium replaced the endothelial layer. Electron microscopy confirmed that these cells had epithelial characteristics with numerous desmosomes, microvilli, and abundant cytoplasmic tonofibrils. While the pathogenesis remains obscure, a metaplastic process early in gestation probably resulted in the presence of epithelial cells in the endothelial layer.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D008297	Male		Males
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
D003315	Cornea	The transparent anterior portion of the fibrous coat of the eye consisting of five layers: stratified squamous CORNEAL EPITHELIUM; BOWMAN MEMBRANE; CORNEAL STROMA; DESCEMET MEMBRANE; and mesenchymal CORNEAL ENDOTHELIUM. It serves as the first refracting medium of the eye. It is structurally continuous with the SCLERA, avascular, receiving its nourishment by permeation through spaces between the lamellae, and is innervated by the ophthalmic division of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE via the ciliary nerves and those of the surrounding conjunctiva which together form plexuses. (Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed)	Corneas
D003318	Corneal Opacity	Disorder occurring in the central or peripheral area of the cornea. The usual degree of transparency becomes relatively opaque.	Leukoma,Corneal Opacities,Leukomas,Opacities, Corneal,Opacity, Corneal
D003886	Descemet Membrane	A layer of the cornea. It is the basal lamina of the CORNEAL ENDOTHELIUM (from which it is secreted) separating it from the CORNEAL STROMA. It is a homogeneous structure composed of fine collagenous filaments, and slowly increases in thickness with age.	Lamina Elastica Posterior,Descemet's Membrane,Descemet Membranes,Descemets Membrane,Elastica Posterior, Lamina,Elastica Posteriors, Lamina,Lamina Elastica Posteriors,Membrane, Descemet,Membrane, Descemet's,Membranes, Descemet,Posterior, Lamina Elastica,Posteriors, Lamina Elastica
D004848	Epithelium	The layers of EPITHELIAL CELLS which cover the inner and outer surfaces of the cutaneous, mucus, and serous tissues and glands of the body.	Mesothelium,Epithelial Tissue,Mesothelial Tissue,Epithelial Tissues,Mesothelial Tissues,Tissue, Epithelial,Tissue, Mesothelial,Tissues, Epithelial,Tissues, Mesothelial
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man