Kammerwinkel
The chamber angle means the anterior chamber of the eye. This is where the chamber of the eye, the iris and the cornea come together.
Definition
The chamber angle (angulis iridocornealis) is a structure of the eye and is located in the anterior chamber of the eye. It is formed by the iris and the cornea. The chamber angle regulates the fluid in the eye, which is important for the intraocular pressure. If the chamber of the eye is affected by disease, there is a risk of glaucoma.
Anatomy
The anterior chamber of the eye, the iris and the cornea meet at an angle in the chamber angle. For this reason, the structure is called the chamber angle. The chamber angle is composed of a total of four structures. These are the trabecular meshwork, the Schwalbe line, the ciliary body band and the scleral spur.
The trabecular meshwork consists of an anterior and a posterior segment. While the front section is unpigmented, the rear section has pigmentation. It also contains the so-called Schlemm canal (sinus venosus sclerae).
The Schwalbe line occurs in the outermost area of the chamber angle. It is positioned just behind the corneal endothelium. The ciliary body band is a part of the ciliary muscle. It lies at the base of the iris and is gray to dark brown in color.
The foremost area of the sclera (sclera) is called the scleral spur . It appears as a white line and is located between the ciliary band and the trabecular meshwork. However, this only applies if there is no pronounced superimposition of the structure. In medicine, a distinction is made between the unpigmented part of the chamber angle and the colored section.
While the unpigmented area is in the front section near the Schwalbe line, the colored section is in the posterior region. The rear section forms the functional part of the chamber angle. He is responsible for the regulation of the system.
The aqueous humor is drained through the rear pigment area of the chamber angle structure. There is also the Schlemm Canal. This has a canal system connecting to the bloodstream. In the anterior segment, the trabecular meshwork meets the corneal endothelium, resulting in the formation of a gray line.
Function
The ciliary body, which is located in the corner area behind the iris, has the function of constantly producing new eye fluid. In this way, it protects the eye from drying out. In addition, fluid is released from the ciliary body into the anterior chamber of the eye. The liquid is extremely important to nourish the cornea.
For this reason, they are also stored in the chamber of the eye. However, if an excess of fluid is formed, this leads to an increase in intraocular pressure, which in turn has negative consequences.
The chamber angle therefore takes on the task of breaking down the fluid again and thus counteracting the risk of intraocular pressure. The excess fluid reaches the bloodstream through the canal system of the chamber angle. Schlemm’s canal, which forms a vein with a circular course between the dermis and the cornea, is indispensable for this function.
The angle of the chamber drains fluid into episcleral and intrascleral veins via Schlemm’s canal. From there, the liquid is drained into the venous system. Due to its regulating function, the chamber angle is indispensable for balancing the intraocular pressure.
Some chamber angle structures also have a share in other tasks. This includes, among other things, the phasing out of the ciliary muscle in the ciliary body band. The muscular structure causes the lens to deform, which is important for near vision. The chamber angle is also related to the visual functions.
Diseases
- Increased intraocular pressure
- Open store glaucoma
- Iris
If the aqueous humor can no longer drain properly via the chamber angle, this results in an increase in intraocular pressure. Pain is usually not felt. Rather, the symptoms become noticeable through a throbbing or a feeling of heaviness in the eyes.
Degenerative changes in the trabecular meshwork are considered to be the cause of chronic open-angle glaucoma. In the case of a dysfunctional chamber angle, there is a risk of deposits, injuries, scarring and cyst formation . In the case of an acute outflow disorder in the chamber angle, a glaucoma attack is also possible.
Chronically elevated intraocular pressure can sometimes result in glaucoma. In the worst case, it can even lead to blindness in the affected eye.
In some people, embryonic development disorders lead to malformations of the Schwalbe line. This often leads to congenital glaucoma . Occasionally, pigment deposits also form in the chamber angle. This in turn can lead to pigment dispersion glaucoma.
Occasionally, tumors on the middle part of the eye (uvea) are also responsible for pigment changes in the chamber angle. Foreign bodies or iris cysts come into consideration as further possible impairments of the chamber angle structure.
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