Eye Dissection (Remote Edition)

First, view the eye dissection video. This will help you visualize the parts of the eye that are shown on the next slides. I will also be demonstrating this dissection in class.

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Each slide showcases a structure and has a description. You will move (drag) the arrow to the structure being described.

The frontmost structure is the cornea. Though the cornea appears cloudy in the specimen, in living animals, it is clear. Behind the cornea is a chamber that holds aqueous humor and the lens.

Use the arrow to indicate the cornea.

Surrounding the cornea is the sclera or the “white of the eye. In most animals the sclera is not as visible is it is in humans.

Use the arrow to indicate the sclera.

Eyelashes are visible on the cow eye. Eyelashes prevent dust and other debris from entering the eye.

Use the arrow to indicate the eyelashes.

The optic nerve is a rope-like structure located on the back of the eye. Sometimes you need to search for it in the layers of fat and tissue. Drag the arrow to the optic nerve.

Use the arrow to indicate the optic nerve.

A scalpel was used to separate the front half of the eye from the back half of the eye. The cornea can be used as a guide.

Use the arrow to indicate the scalpel.

The jelly-like substance is the vitreous humor. It is seen here toward the back of the eye.

The iris looks like a dark wheel with an opening in the center. In cows the iris is a dark brown, humans can have other colors.

Use the arrow to indicate the vitreous humor.

Use the arrow to indicate the iris.

Here the iris has been removed. The opening in the center is the pupil. It can dilate (get larger) or constrict (get smaller) in response to light.

Use the arrow to indicate the pupil.

Embedded in the vitreous humor is the lense.

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The lens looks like a mentos. Light that enters the eye is focused by the lens.

Use the arrow to indicate the lens.

The retina is a thin layer at the back of the eye that contains photoreceptors.

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There is a spot on the retina where the nerves converge into the optic nerve. This is called the optic disk and creates a “blind spot” in our vision.

Use the arrow to indicate the optic disk.

Use the arrow to indicate the retina.

If you remove the retina, you find a blue layer underneath it called the tapetum. This is not found in humans, but many animals have this reflective surface to see in the dark.

Use the arrow to indicate the tapetum.

Each part of the eye is separated. Drag the label to the appropriate structure.

Cornea

Tapetum

Lens

Iris

Quiz: Identify each structure by the description: