Ciliary body
Corpus ciliare
Sensory (eye & ear)OrgansHeadLeft and right
View left in 3D View right in 3D
- What it is
- A ring of muscle and folded, vascular epithelium between the iris root and the ora serrata, part of the uveal tract. Its front part (pars plicata) carries about 70 radial ciliary processes; its back part (pars plana) is flat.
- Function
- The ciliary processes secrete aqueous humour; the ciliary muscle contracts to slacken the zonules so the lens rounds up for near focus (accommodation).
- Size
- Ring ~6 mm wide from front to back (pars plicata 2 mm, pars plana 4 mm); processes ~2 mm long and 0.5-1 mm high.
- Clinical note
- Glaucoma drops and some laser treatments reduce aqueous production here; atropine paralyses the ciliary muscle (cycloplegia) for eye examinations.