The spelling of "arteria ciliaris," the artery that brings blood to the ciliary body of the eye, can be a challenge. The first word, "arteria," is spelled with an "a" that sounds like "ah" in IPA phonetic transcription. The second word, "ciliaris," has a "ci" combination that sounds like "si" followed by a short "i" sound. The "a" in "ciliaris" is pronounced like "a" in "cat." Therefore, the correct pronunciation of "arteria ciliaris" is [ɑrtɛria sɪliaris].
Arteria ciliaris, derived from Latin, refers to the ciliary artery, a small blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to structures in the eye known as the ciliary body and iris. It is one of the major branches of the ophthalmic artery.
The ciliary artery is a short and slender vessel, originating at the ophthalmic artery's anterior part, after it passes through the optic nerve sheath. It then continues forward and gains entrance into the eyeball through the back part of the sclera, a tough outer layer of the eye. Upon entering the eyeball, it splits into numerous branches. These branches divide into two main groups: the anterior ciliary arteries and the long posterior ciliary arteries.
The anterior ciliary arteries, which are between 6-12 in number, serve the front part of the eyeball and play a key role in delivering blood to the ciliary body and iris, which are crucial for regulating the shape of the lens and controlling the size of the pupil, respectively. These arteries also supply blood to the conjunctiva (a clear layer covering the eye) and the eyelids.
The long posterior ciliary arteries contribute to the blood supply of the choroid, a vascular layer situated between the sclera and the retina. The choroid plays a critical role in providing nutrients to the retinal pigment epithelium and the outer retina.
Overall, the arteria ciliaris, or ciliary artery, is an essential blood vessel that supports the functioning of various structures within the eye, including the ciliary body, iris, and choroid.
The term "Arteria Ciliaris" comes from Latin.
- "Arteria" comes from the Latin word "arteria", which means "air container" or "windpipe". In ancient Greek, it was referred to as "ἀρτηρία" (artería), which had a similar original meaning. Over time, the meaning evolved to represent the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body.
- "Ciliaris" is derived from the Latin word "cilia", which means "eyelashes". It is associated with the word "ciliary" in English and refers to small hair-like structures found on the edge of certain cells or organisms, including the eyelashes. In the case of "Arteria Ciliaris", it specifically refers to the artery that supplies blood to the ciliary body in the eye.