The vitreous body, also known as the vitreous humor, is a gel-like substance that fills the space between the lens and the retina in the eyeball. Its spelling may cause confusion, as the word "vitreous" is pronounced differently than it is spelled. It is pronounced /ˈvɪtriəs/ (VIT-ree-us) instead of /vaɪˈtriəs/ (vy-TRAY-us) which is how it appears to be should be phonetically spelled. Nevertheless, understanding the anatomy of the eye is crucial for proper eye care and health.
The vitreous body, also known as vitreous humor, refers to a transparent gel-like substance that occupies the space between the lens and the retina in the eye. It is a jelly-like substance composed primarily of water, collagen fibers, and hyaluronic acid.
The vitreous body performs several crucial functions in maintaining the overall structural integrity and functionality of the eye. It helps maintain the shape of the eyeball, providing mechanical support and acting as a cushion or shock absorber for the delicate structures of the eye. Additionally, the vitreous body contributes to the refractive power of the eye, aiding in the process of focusing light onto the retina.
Moreover, the vitreous body is essential for the transmission of light through the eye. It is optically clear, allowing light to pass through it and reach the retina, where the light signals are converted into electrical impulses and transmitted to the brain for visual perception.
Furthermore, the vitreous body plays a role in maintaining the retinal attachment. It adheres to the retina, helping to keep it in place and preventing it from detaching. It also assists in the nourishment of the avascular retina, as it contains certain nutrients and oxygen that are essential for the metabolic processes of the cells within the retina.
In summary, the vitreous body is a transparent gel-like substance that fills the space between the lens and the retina in the eyeball. It provides mechanical support, contributes to the refractive power of the eye, transmits light, and aids in maintaining retinal attachment and nourishment.
Corpus vitreum, a transparent jelly-like substance filling the interior of the eyeball behind the crystalline lens; it is composed of a delicate network (v. stroma) enclosing in its meshes a watery fluid (v. humor), and surrounded by a membranous condensation of the stroma, the hyaloid membrane.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word vitreous originates from the Latin adjective vitreus, meaning glassy or like glass. It was derived from the Latin noun vitrum, which means glass. The term vitreous body refers to a gel-like substance found in the eyeball, which has a clear and glassy appearance, hence the connection to the word vitreous.