Iridomotor, which refers to the reflexive contraction of the iris muscles, is a combination of two Greek roots: "irido," meaning iris, and "motor," meaning movement. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced /ˌɪrɪdoʊˈmoʊtər/. The "irido" part is pronounced with a short "i" sound followed by "ri" pronounced like "ree," and the "do" is pronounced just like it looks. The "motor" part is pronounced with a long "o" sound, followed by "tor" pronounced like "tour."
Iridomotor refers to the muscles that control the movement of the iris in the eye. The term "irido" is derived from the Latin word "iris," which means rainbow or colored membrane, and "motor" is associated with movement. Therefore, iridomotor essentially describes the muscles responsible for regulating the size of the pupil and the degree of light entering the eye.
The iridomotor muscles are located within the iris, a circular structure that surrounds the pupil. They allow for the contraction and dilation of the iris, which play a crucial role in controlling the amount of light that reaches the retina. When the iridomotor muscles contract, the pupil constricts and becomes smaller, limiting the entry of light. Conversely, when these muscles relax, the iris expands, causing the pupil to dilate and allowing more light to enter the eye.
The iridomotor muscles are part of the autonomic nervous system and are not under conscious control. They respond directly to changes in light intensity detected by the retina. For instance, in bright environments, the iridomotor muscles contract to reduce the size of the pupil, protecting the retina from excessive light exposure. In dimly lit surroundings, the muscles relax, resulting in a wider pupil to enhance the intake of available light.
Overall, the function of the iridomotor muscles is essential for adapting the eye's sensitivity to varying light conditions, maintaining optimal visual acuity, and safeguarding the delicate structures within the eye from potential damage due to excessive light.
Iridocinetic.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "iridomotor" is derived from the combination of two roots: "irido-" and "-motor".
1. "Irido-" is derived from the Latin word "iris", meaning "iris of the eye". The iris is the colored part of the eye that controls the size of the pupil and regulates the amount of light entering the eye. In scientific and medical terminology, "irido-" is often used as a prefix referring to the iris or something related to it.
2. "-Motor" is derived from the Latin word "mōtor", meaning "mover" or "driver". In English, "-motor" is commonly used as a suffix to denote something related to movement, mechanics, or muscles.
Therefore, combining these two roots, "iridomotor" refers to something related to the movement or control of the iris muscles in the eye.