Bulbar conjunctiva

Tunica conjunctiva bulbi

Sensory (eye & ear)OrgansHeadLeft and right

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What it is

A thin, transparent mucous membrane covering the white of the eye up to the limbus; at the fornices it folds back to line the inner surface of both lids (palpebral conjunctiva).

Function

Lubricates the eye with mucus and tears, lets the lids glide over the globe and forms a barrier against infection.

Size

Epithelium only a few cell layers thick; upper fornix ~10 mm and lower ~8 mm from the limbus.

Clinical note

Its fine vessels dilate in conjunctivitis ("pink eye"); a painless bright-red subconjunctival haemorrhage looks alarming but is usually harmless.