Parts of the Human Eye - Class 10 Notes
1. Cornea:
- The transparent, dome-shaped outer layer of the eye.
- Light first enters through the cornea, which helps focus it onto the lens.
- Provides protection and contributes to focusing light.
2. Iris:
- The colored part of the eye, surrounding the pupil.
- The iris controls the size of the pupil, regulating the amount of light that enters the eye.
3. Pupil:
- A circular opening in the center of the iris.
- The pupil changes size depending on the light level (dilates in low light, contracts in bright light).
4. Crystalline Lens:
- Transparent, flexible structure located behind the pupil.
- Focuses light onto the retina. It changes shape to focus on near or distant objects
(accommodation).
5. Ciliary Muscles:
- These muscles are connected to the lens and control its shape.
- When they contract, they make the lens thicker for near vision and thinner for distant vision.
6. Retina:
- The light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye.
- It contains photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) that convert light into electrical signals.
7. Optic Nerve:
- Transmits electrical signals from the retina to the brain, allowing visual information to be
processed.
8. Vitreous Humor:
- A gel-like substance located between the lens and the retina.
- Helps maintain the shape of the eye and provides support to the retina.
9. Sclera:
- The white, protective outer layer of the eye.
- It maintains the shape of the eyeball and provides a structure for muscles to attach.
10. Aqueous Humor:
- A clear fluid located between the cornea and the lens.
- It helps maintain intraocular pressure, provides nutrients to the lens and cornea, and removes
waste products.
The process of seeing begins as follows:
1. Light enters the eye through the **cornea**, which refracts it to focus it.
2. The light passes through the **pupil** which adjusts its size depending on the light.
3. The **iris** controls the amount of light entering by adjusting the size of the pupil.
4. The light then passes through the **crystalline lens**, which focuses it onto the retina.
5. The **ciliary muscles** help change the shape of the lens for focus.
6. The focused light reaches the **retina**, where photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) convert it
into electrical signals.
7. These signals are sent via the **optic nerve** to the brain, where they are processed as vision.
8. The **aqueous humor** helps to maintain eye pressure and supplies nutrients to the eye parts.
9. The **vitreous humor** provides support to the retina and helps maintain the shape of the eye.
10. The **sclera** surrounds and protects the eye, maintaining its shape.
