Eyes: Cell Types Composing the Tissue

Eyes are able to detect light from the surrounding environment and transfer detected information to the brain. The eye is a very complex organ made up of multiple specialized components. The components and the tissues are made up of many types of cells, each with a specific purpose in order to enable the tissues to perform specialized roles.

[Page 385]Embryologically, eyes develop from four sources: (1) the neuroectoderm, which gives rise to the retina, posterior layer of iris, and optic nerve; (2) the surface ectoderm, which forms the lens of the eye and the corneal epithelium; (3) the mesoderm (present between the aforementioned layers), which gives rise to the fibrous and vascular coats of the eye; and (4) the choroid, sclera, and corneal endothelium, which arise ...