View source for Sclera

__NOTOC__
{{Infobox Anatomy |
  Name         = {{PAGENAME}} |
  Latin        = |
  GraySubject  = 225 |
  GrayPage     = 1006 |
  Image        = Schematic diagram of the human eye en_svg.png |
  Caption      = Schematic diagram of the human eye. |
  Image2       = |yuck
  Caption2     = |
  Width        = 325 |
  Precursor    = |
  System       = |
  Artery       = [[anterior ciliary arteries]] |
  Vein         = |
  Nerve        = |
  Lymph        = |
  MeshName     = Sclera |
  MeshNumber   = A09.371.784 |
  DorlandsPre  = |
  DorlandsSuf  = |
}}
{{CMG}}




The '''sclera''' is the opaque (usually white), fibrous, protective layer of the [[eye]] containing [[collagen]] and [[elastic fiber]]s.<ref name="Cassin">Cassin, B. and Solomon, S. ''Dictionary of Eye Terminology''. Gainesville, Florida: Triad Publishing Company, 1990.</ref> In children, it is thinner and shows some of the underlying pigment, appearing slightly blue. In the old, however, fatty deposits on the sclera can make it appear slightly yellow.

The sclera forms the posterior five sixths of the connective tissue coat of the globe. The sclera maintains the shape of the globe, offering resistance to internal and external forces, and provides an attachment for the extraocular muscle insertions. The thickness of the sclera varies from 1mm at the posterior pole to 0.3 mm just behind the rectus muscle insertions.

==Additional images==
<gallery>
 Image:Gray875.png|Interior of anterior half of bulb of eye.
 Image:Gray880.png|The terminal portion of the optic nerve and its entrance into the eyeball, in horizontal section.
 Image:Gray1206.png|The interior of the posterior half of the left eyeball.
</gallery>

==References==
<div class="references-small">
<references/>
</div>

==External links==
* {{BUHistology|08008loa}}
* {{UMichAtlas|eye_1}} - "Sagittal Section Through the Eyeball"


{{Eye}}
{{Visual_system}}
{{Muscles of orbit}}

[[category:eye]]
{{WikiDoc Help Menu}}
{{WikiDoc Sources}}

[[ca:Escleròtica]]
[[de:Sclera]]
[[es:Esclerótica]]
[[fr:Sclère]]
[[it:Sclera]]
[[lt:Odena]]
[[nl:Sclera]]
[[en:صُلبہ]]
[[no:Sklera]]
[[pl:Twardówka]]
[[pt:Esclera]]
[[ru:Склера]]
[[sk:Očné bielko]]
[[zh:巩膜]]
[[sv:senhinnan]]