Ciliary Processes and Zonula Filaments

The functions of the ciliary body are accommodation and the release of ocular fluid. Both parts of the ciliary body  are covered by a two-layered epithelium. The suspensor filaments for the lens (zonula filaments, zonula lentis, Zinn zonule) 2 extend from the surface of the ciliary processus 1 to the lens capsule. This establishes the connection between lens and ciliary muscle. There are thick suspensor fibers and thinner tensile fibers. The latter are not anchored in the ciliary epithelium but span the distance between ciliary fold and basal membrane of the non-pigmented epithelium. The thinner fibers may be considered part of the basal membrane. The figure shows the attachment of the zonula filaments to the walls of the ciliary processus.

1 Ciliary processus

2 Lens zonula, zonula filaments

Scanning electron microscopy; magnification: × 660

References

Kuehnel, W.(2003). Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy. 4^th edition . Institute of Anatomy Universitätzu Luebeck Luebeck, Germany . Thieme Stuttgart · New York .