Bowman's membrane
Encyclopedia
The Bowman's membrane is a smooth layer in the eye
. It is located between the superficial epithelium
and the stroma in the cornea
. It is composed of strong collagen
fibers and helps the cornea maintain its shape. If the Bowman's membrane is damaged, scarring will normally occur.
In adult humans this layer is 8-12 μm thick.
Bowman's layer, which (in mammals) is found only in primates, is absent in cats, dogs, mice, and other carnivores.
The Bowman's membrane is named after Sir William Bowman (1816–1892), an English physician
, anatomist and ophthalmologist, who discovered this membrane.
Human eye
The human eye is an organ which reacts to light for several purposes. As a conscious sense organ, the eye allows vision. Rod and cone cells in the retina allow conscious light perception and vision including color differentiation and the perception of depth...
. It is located between the superficial epithelium
Epithelium
Epithelium is one of the four basic types of animal tissue, along with connective tissue, muscle tissue and nervous tissue. Epithelial tissues line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body, and also form many glands. Functions of epithelial cells include secretion, selective...
and the stroma in the cornea
Cornea
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Together with the lens, the cornea refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. In humans, the refractive power of the cornea is...
. It is composed of strong collagen
Collagen
Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins found in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content...
fibers and helps the cornea maintain its shape. If the Bowman's membrane is damaged, scarring will normally occur.
In adult humans this layer is 8-12 μm thick.
Bowman's layer, which (in mammals) is found only in primates, is absent in cats, dogs, mice, and other carnivores.
The Bowman's membrane is named after Sir William Bowman (1816–1892), an English physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, anatomist and ophthalmologist, who discovered this membrane.
