CORNEAL STROMA Meaning and
Definition
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The corneal stroma refers to the middle layer of the cornea, which is the transparent, dome-shaped outermost part of the eye. It consists of tough, fibrous tissue that plays a crucial role in maintaining the shape, strength, and transparency of the cornea. By contributing nearly 90% of the corneal thickness, the stroma is responsible for its mechanical stability.
Composed of several layers of collagen fibrils, the corneal stroma acts as a scaffold for the cornea, providing it with its tensile strength and elasticity. The arrangement of collagen fibers in a precise pattern allows light to pass through the cornea unobstructed, facilitating clear vision. The collagen bundles are interwoven in different orientations, contributing to the cornea's ability to resist deformation.
In addition to collagen, the corneal stroma also contains other components such as keratocytes, which are specialized cells responsible for the maintenance and repair of the cornea. These cells help regulate the water content of the tissue, constantly monitoring and adjusting it to maintain corneal transparency.
Alterations or disorders affecting the corneal stroma can have significant implications for vision. Conditions such as corneal dystrophies, trauma, infections, or degenerative diseases may result in abnormalities in stromal structure, leading to corneal opacities, thinning, or irregularities that can impair visual acuity. Advances in corneal transplant surgery and treatments targeting the stroma, such as collagen cross-linking or corneal refractive surgeries, have greatly improved the management of stromal-related disorders, helping to restore or enhance visual functionality.
Common Misspellings for CORNEAL STROMA
- xorneal stroma
- vorneal stroma
- forneal stroma
- dorneal stroma
- cirneal stroma
- ckrneal stroma
- clrneal stroma
- cprneal stroma
- c0rneal stroma
- c9rneal stroma
- coeneal stroma
- codneal stroma
- cofneal stroma
- cotneal stroma
- co5neal stroma
- co4neal stroma
- corbeal stroma
- cormeal stroma
- corjeal stroma
- corheal stroma
Etymology of CORNEAL STROMA
The word "corneal" originates from the Latin word "cornea", which means "horny" or "like a horn". It refers to the transparent, dome-shaped front layer of the eye called the cornea.
The term "stroma" comes from the Greek word "stroma", meaning "bed" or "mattress". In the context of the cornea, it specifically refers to the thick, collagen-rich middle layer of the cornea, which provides support and maintains the cornea's shape.
Therefore, the term "corneal stroma" describes the middle layer of the cornea – a bed or mattress-like structure composed of collagen fibers.
