ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

OF THE UVEAL TRACT

Dr.dr. Anang Tribowo, SpM (K)

OPHTHALMOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SRIWIJAYA UNIVERSITY
DR. MOH. HOESIN HOSPITAL PALEMBANG

BACKGROUND
UVEAL
TRACT

The main vascular

compartment of the eye

IRIS

CILIARY
BODY
CHOROID

IRIS

Functions as a diaphragma, separating the

anterior and posterior chamber.
In its centre is an aperture, called pupil
regulates the amount of
light entering the eye

CILIARY
BODY
Extends forward from the anterior choroid to
the base of the iris
Functions as produces aquous humous and
provides the muscle power for accomodation
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CHOROID

Posterior segment of the uvea, between the

retina and sclera
High vascularized and giving nutrition to the
retina

UVEAL TRACT is a major vascular compartments of the

eye
important to understand the uveal tract began
development, anatomy and physiology
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AIM
To increase knowledge and understand more
clearly of the Uveal tract, about :
Embryology
Anatomy
Physiology
and some congenital abnormalities

 EMBRYOLOGY OF THE
UVEAL TRACT

EMBRYOLOGY OF THE IRIS

Development of the iris
depends embryonic fissure
closure, on day 33-35 gestation
Abnormal : COLOBOMA

Development of the IRIS

1st

stroma at 6th weeks gestation

anular vessels circulus arterial iris major

The enlarge of iris stroma

pupilary membran at 5th
month gestation
Pupil at 6th month
Musculus sphincter and dilator iris

at 6th month

Complete 8th month of gestation

EMBRYOLOGY OF THE CILIARY BODY

Ciliary body derived from neuroektoderm and
mesenchyme.
Ciliary muscle seen starting

at 3thmonth gestation

Ciliary epithelium formed

the anterior optic cup
formed folds be the ciliary processes
at 4th - 6thmonth gestation

EMBRYOLOGY OF THE CHOROID

Starts from: anterior optic disc posterior optic
nerves
Neural crest cells around the optic disc choroidal
stroma
Mesoderm endothelial lining of all orbital and
ocular blood vessels

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2nd month

Choroidal vasculature develops;

Bruchs Membrane appears

3rd month

Vortex veins pierce sclera

5th month

Choroidal vessels form layers

7th month

Choroidal melanocytes produce

pigment

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 ANATOMY OF THE
UVEAL TRACT

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ANATOMY OF THE IRIS

Iris
anterior most part of
the uveal tract
Consists of vessels, connective
tissue, musculus

12 mm

In its centre an aperture of

about 3-4 mm diameter, called
pupil

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ANATOMY OF THE IRIS

Periphery iris :
root iris
anterior ciliary
body
Divide into
anterior and
Posterior chamber

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ANATOMY OF THE IRIS

2 zone Pupillary zone

and Ciliary zone
The thickest area : the
collarette (0.6 mm)

1,5 mm

The thinnest area : near

its insertion with the
ciliary body/the root (0.5
mm)

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ANATOMY OF THE IRIS

A. The pupillary
B. Ciliary
C. Brown iris with its dense, matted
anterior border layer
D. Pupillary edge, the blue iris surface
with a less dense anterior border
layer
E. Major arterial circle
F. Radical branches of the arteries and
veins form the incomplete minor
arterial circle
G. Sphinchter muscle
H. Dilator muscle
I,J,K. Posterior surface of the iris

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Composite drawing of the surfaces and layers of the iris

ANATOMY OF THE IRIS

VESSELS

Blood vessels iris stroma

radial course, arising from the major arterial circle
center of the pupil
INNERVATION

Innervation of the iris N. short ciliary and N. longus ciliary

N. longus ciliary N. nasosiliar, branch of N. Trigeminus
N. brevis ciliary ciliary ganglion N. oculomotorius

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ANATOMY OF THE IRIS

HISTOLOGYfive layers

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ANATOMY OF THE IRIS

IRIS COLOR
Iris color is determined by
three variables, :
1. Density and structure of
the iris stroma,
2. The pigment epithelium
3. The content of pigment
granules (melanin) in
melanocytes of the stroma

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ANATOMY OF THE CILIARY BODY

In sagital section

the ciliary body has triagular shape

Its widht : 5.9 mm on nasal side and
6.7 mm on the temporal

The posterior area of the ciliary body

the Ora Serata

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ANATOMY OF THE CILIARY BODY

The ciliary body

the pars plicata and the pars plana

Ciliary
processus

The pars plicata is the wider,

Containing 70 - 80 ciliary
processes extend into
the posterior chamber

The pars plana, extends from the

posterior of the pars plicata to the
ora serrata, the transition choroid

Inner aspect ciliary body, (a) pars

plicata, (b)pars plana, (c) ora serata

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ANATOMY OF THE CILIARY BODY

Partision and layers of ciliary body

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ANATOMY OF THE CILIARY BODY

CILIARY MUSCLE

composed of smooth muscle fibers oriented

in longitudinal, radial and circular.
Attaches anteriorly to the scleral
spur and trabecular meshwork.
When the longitudinal muscle
contracts, it pulls open the
trabecular meshwork and schlemm`s
canal

The circular muscle fibers

contract they relax the zonules,
allowing the lens to change
shape

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ANATOMY OF THE CILIARY BODY

CILIARY EPITHELIUM

pigmented and non pigmented

PIGMENTED CILIARY EPITHELIUM

composed of low cuboidal cells with
numerous cytoplasmic melanin
granules.
Anterior : anterior iris epitel
Posterior : retina pigmen epitel

NON PIGMENTED CILIARY EPITHELIUM

composed of columnar cells on pars plana
and cuboid on pars plicata
Anterior : posterior iris epitel
Posterior : ora serata
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ANATOMY OF THE CHOROID

The choroid
layer

Smooth and thin

Extend from ora serata to optic

nerve, between sklera and
retina.
Appearance:
Light to dark brown & spongy
Thickness:
- Anterior 0.10 - 0.15 mm
- Posterior 0.22 mm 0.30 mm
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ANATOMY OF THE CHOROID

Suprachoroid
Hallers layer

Choroid

Vascular layers

Sattlers
layer
Choriocapillaries

Bruchs Membrane
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ANATOMY OF THE CHOROID

SUPRACHOROID

Outermost layer of choroid

Thickness: 30 m
No blood vessels present except those that pass through
Darkly pigmented a great number of melanocytes

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ANATOMY OF THE CHOROID

VASCULAR LAYERS
HALLERS LAYER :
- large blood vessels; melanocytes; cilliary nerve fibers
SATTLERS LAYER:
- smaller blood vessels
- ganglion cells

CHORIOCAPILLARIES:
- continuous layer of large capillaries
- diameter: 40-60 m
- vessels walls: extremely thin; contain multiple fenestrations
- allows 2 to 3 red blood cells pass through at a time

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ANATOMY OF THE CHOROID

Short ciliary artery

Hallers layer
Sattlers layer

choriocapilarries
Bruchs membrane
Epitel pigmen retina

Choroidal supply

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ANATOMY OF THE CHOROID

BRUCHS MEMBRANE
Basal membrane of RPE and choriocapillaries endothelium

Basal lamina of the choriocapillaries

Outer collagenous zone
elastic fibers
Inner collagenous zone
Basal lamina of the RPE

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ANATOMY OF THE CHOROID

INNERVATION
Parasympathetic and Sympathetic
Long ciliary nerves from suprachoroid to ora serrata
(anterior)
Short posterior ciliary nerves suprachoroidal space (3-4
mm from the optic nerve) choroid

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VASCULAR SYSTEM OF THE UVEAL

Ocular vessels ophthalmic
artery a branch of internal
carotid artery (10 mm away
optic canal)

Ophthalmic artery
Central retinal artery
Posterior ciliary arteries
Several anterior ciliary arteries

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POSTERIOR CILIARY ARTERY

Medial

Lateral

SPCA

LPCA
Sclera (3-4 mm from optic nerve)

anteriorly
Suprachoroidal space to ora serrata
Posterior branches to supply
choriocapillaries

sclera
Short distance
Suprachoroidal space

Peripapillary choroid
Give branches to supply the
posterior choriocapillaries

iris, ciliary body and

anterior choroid

optic nerve and posterior choroid

LPCA: Long posterior ciliary artery
SPCA: Short posterior ciliary artery

ANTERIOR CILIARY ARTERIES (ACA):

- main blood supply for anterior uveal
and choroid periphery
- course together with rectus muscle
anterior sclera form
intramuscular circle + LPCA Major
Arterial Circle: main supply of iris and
ciliary body

 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE
UVEAL TRACT

PHYSIOLOGY OF THE IRIS

IRIS

as a diaphragma to regulate the amount of light

entering the eye pass through the pupil

The size of pupil :

M. spingter pupil
M. dilator pupil

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Midriasis of pupil

symphatetic pathway

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Miosis of pupil

Parasymphathetic pathway

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PHYSIOLOGY OF THE CILIARY BODY

Ciliary body and cliary epithelium are responsible for
produces and secretion of aquous humour
Ciliary body vessels : production aqueous humor
Ciliary proceccus : the functional unit responsible for aqueous
humor secretion .
Non pigmented ciliary epithelium : Active secretion
Aquous humour flow through : trabekular outflow and uveasklera
outflow

The circular muscle fibers contract , they relax the zonules,

allowing the lens to change shape
Accomodation

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PHYSIOLOGY OF THE CHOROID

Giving nutrition to the retina
Choroidal blood flow intraocular
pressure
Prevent light reflection absorbing
excess light penetrating the retina

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AGING CHANGES IN UVEA

IRIS
Loss of pigment from the epithelium
The dilator muscle become athropy, and sphingter iris,
sclerotic
CILIARY BODY
The amount of connective tissue incrase
No significant correlation between loss of ciliary muscle
contractile ability and age
The volume of aquous humour decreases
CHOROID
The thickness od bruch membrane incrases
Calsification and deposits in the inner colagens layers
which incrases
The choriocapillaris decreases in density and
diameters.
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 CONGENITAL
ABNORMALITIES OF THE
UVEAL TRACT

1. COLOBOMA
a localized defect within tissue, may involve any part of the uveal tract.

Coloboma may be complete or incomplete (iris stromal hypoplasia) or, when

in the region of the choroid, may appear cystic

Typical colobomas occur in the region of the embryonic cleft, inferonasally,

caused by interference with the normal closure of the embryonic cleft

Atypical colobomas occur in regions other than the inferonasal area.

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Iris coloboma

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2. ANIRIDIA
Complete absence of the iris
Histologically, only a rim of
rudimentary iris tissue is seen.
The iris musculature is usually
underdeveloped or absent.
Th e condition may be autosomal
dominant or, less commonly, autosomal
recessive.
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3. IRIS AND CILIARY BODY CYST

Located between Iris and Ciliary body
Usually in women, and were located
in the temporal quadrants

Histologically, located where the

ciliary body's nonpigmented epithelium
joined the iris pigment epithelium

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CONCLUSION
Uveal tract is a major compartement vascular in the eye, consist of iris and
ciliary body (anterior uveal), and choroid (posterior uveal).
The iris is the anterior part of uvea. Its development visible at 6th weeks
gestation. iris as a diaphragma to regulate the amount of light entering the
eye pass through the pupil
The ciliary body is extends forward from the anterior choroid to the base of
the iris. Its derived from neuroektoderm and mesenchyme. Functions as
produces aquous humous and provides the muscle power for accomodation

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CONCLUSION
Choroid is the posterior segment of the uvea,
between the retina and sclera. Its derived from neural
crest cells and mesoderm. Choroid has High
vascularized and giving nutrition to the retina

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Ciliary body in elder

person and young
person

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4 STAGES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE IRIS

Diagram showing four stages in the growth of the iris. 1. Stage of mesodermal iris only.
I = mesodermal iris. VI = vessel in mesodermal iris. IH irido-hyaloid vessel. C=circulus arteriosus iridis
major. E=ectoderm of optic cup. 2. Commencing growth of ectodermal iris. The tip of this now reaches
beyond the arterial circle. 3. The irido-hyaloid vessels have disappeared and the growing tip of the
ectodermal iris is beginning to differentiate. 4. The iris is almost complete. M=sphincter pupillae.
E=pars iridica retinae. C=circulus arteriosus iridis major. CP=ciliary processes.
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Ciliary body vessels

Vasoconstriction production aqueous humor
Vasodilatation production carbondioksida,
aplication prostaglandin, parasentesis, dan
parasimphatetic stimulation.

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 Active secretion non pigmented

ciliary epithelium
Pasive secretion ultrafiltration
and diffusion

The autonomic innervation

of the ciliary body
Parasympathetic
system uses the
neurotransmitter
acetylcholine
nicotinic & muscarinic
Sympathetic system
uses acetylcholine &
nicotinic preganglionic
norepinephrine &
, receptors

In the eye:
2 epithel iris, epithel
ciliary, retina, and RPE

2B & 2C corpus ciliary,

iris, RPE
2A dan 2C retina
neurosensory

Beta 2 reseptor + Gs protein

adenylate cyclase stimulation
cAMP aqueous humor production

Alfa 2 reseptor + Gi protein

adenylate cyclase inhibition
cAMP aqueous humor
production

Molecular mechanisms and regulation of aqueous

humor production the scheme describes the basic
physiologic processes:

Accumulation of plasma reservoir

Transport across blood-aqueous barrier
Osmotic flow
Rate of aqueous humor production
Circadian rhythm of aqueous humor flow
Other factor influencing aqueous humor flow

Aqueous Humor Outflow

Trabecular outflow

Uveoscleral outflow

Schematic outflow layers

Trabecular outflow
Sceral spur
the posterior wall of the scleral sulcus is
formed by a group of fibers, the scleral roll,
which run parallel to the limbus and project
inward to form the scleral spur. This circular
structure prevents the ciliary muscle from
causing schlemm`s canal collapse
Schwalbe`s line
antertior to the apical portion of the

Trabecular meshwork
a triangular shape, with its apex at schwalbe`s line
and its base at the scleral spur
Uveal meshwork
inner portion of trabecular meshwork

Corneoscleral meshwork
this portion extends from the scleral spur to the
anterior wall of the scleral sulcus and consists of
sheets of trabeculae that are perforated by elliptical
opening. This anatomis arrangement important
mechanical role for the cholinergic innervation of
ciliary muscle on trabecular meshwork
Juxtacanalicular tissue
the outermost portion of the meshwork

Intrascleral channels
schlemm`s canal is connected to episcleral and
conjunctival veins by a complex system of intrascleral
channels

Schlemm`s canal

Episcleral and conjunctival veins

Trabecular Outflow

Uveoscleral Outflow

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3 patterns of choriocapillaries:
Lobular pattern: posterior pole
Spindle pattern: equatorial region
Ladder pattern: peripheral
Lobular pattern choroidal blood flow at macula region

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Persistent pupilary membran

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