Changes

Jump to navigation Jump to search
415 bytes added ,  22:43, 23 February 2010
no edit summary
Line 5: Line 5:  
Common mydriatics have no effect on the reptilian eye because both the iris sphincter and ciliary muscle contain striated (or skeletal) rather than smooth muscle. This means that they are under conscious control. Therefore, unlike mammals, the consensual pupillary response is absent, the cornea does not contain a Descemets membrane and scleral ossicles are often present. This renders the ocular examination more challenging but more importantly, the parasympatholytic topical drugs (that reduce the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system) used to dilate the pupil (mydriasis) in mammals are totally ineffective.
 
Common mydriatics have no effect on the reptilian eye because both the iris sphincter and ciliary muscle contain striated (or skeletal) rather than smooth muscle. This means that they are under conscious control. Therefore, unlike mammals, the consensual pupillary response is absent, the cornea does not contain a Descemets membrane and scleral ossicles are often present. This renders the ocular examination more challenging but more importantly, the parasympatholytic topical drugs (that reduce the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system) used to dilate the pupil (mydriasis) in mammals are totally ineffective.
   −
A well developed parietal eye (with a lens and retina) is found in some lizards including the Green iguana. It functions in hormone regulation.
+
Another characteristic of the lizard eye is its ability to occupy both scotopic (light limited) and photopic (light rich) environments. Indeed, the morphology of the eye adapts and varies according to activity in these different light environments.  
   −
Another characteristic of the lizard eye is its ability to occupy both scotopic (light limited) and photopic (light rich) environments. Indeed, the morphology of the eye adapts and varies according to activity in these different light environments.  
+
==Parietal Eye==
 +
 
 +
A well developed parietal "eye" (with a rudimentary lens and retina) is found in some lizards, including the green iguana, blue-tongue skink and water dragon. This sensory organ, connected to the central nervous system and the pineal gland by the small parietal nerve, functions in hormone production (including reproduction) and thermoregulation. Although sensitive to changes in light, it cannot form images. Sometimes referred to as "pineal eye" or "third eye", it it visible as an opalescent gray spot on the top of some lizard's heads.
    
==Eyelids==
 
==Eyelids==
Author
2,954

edits

Navigation menu