Descemet's membrane
Descemet's membrane (or the Descemet membrane) is the basement membrane that lies between the corneal proper substance, also called stroma, and the endothelial layer of the cornea. It is composed of different kinds of collagen (Type IV and VIII)[1] than the stroma. The endothelial layer is located at the posterior of the cornea. Descemet's membrane, as the basement membrane for the endothelial layer, is secreted by the single layer of squamous epithelial cells that compose the endothelial layer of the cornea.
Structure
Its thickness ranges from 3 μm at birth to 8–10 μm in adults.[2]
The corneal endothelium is a single layer of squamous cells covering the surface of the cornea that faces the anterior chamber.
Clinical significance
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/KF_ring_2.jpg/220px-KF_ring_2.jpg)
Significant damage to the membrane may require a corneal transplant. Damage caused by the hereditary condition known as Fuchs dystrophy (q.v.)—where Descemet's membrane progressively fails and the cornea thickens and clouds because the exchange of nutrients/fluids between the cornea and the rest of the eye is interrupted—can be reversed by surgery. The surgeon can scrape away the damaged Descemet membrane and insert/transplant a new membrane harvested from the eye of a donor.[3] In the process most of the squamous cells of the donor membrane survive to dramatically and emphatically reverse the corneal deterioration (see DMEK surgery).
Descemet's membrane is also a site of copper deposition in patients with Wilson's disease or other liver diseases, leading to formation of Kayser–Fleischer rings.
History
It is also known as the posterior limiting elastic lamina, lamina elastica posterior, and membrane of Demours. It was named after French physician Jean Descemet (1732–1810).
See also
- Haab's striae
- Kayser–Fleischer ring
- Pierre Demours
References
- ^ "Tissue Distribution of Type VIII Collagen in Human Adult and Fetal Eyes" (PDF). Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 1991-08-01. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ Johnson DH, Bourne WM, Campbell RJ: The ultrastructure of Descemet's membrane. I. Changes with age in normal cornea. Arch Ophthalmol 100:1942, 1982
- ^ Stuart AJ, Virgili G, Shortt AJ (2016). "Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty versus Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty for corneal endothelial failure". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (3): CD012097. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012097.
Histology A text and atlas. Michael H.Ross and Wojciech Pawlina 5th Edition 2006
External links
- Histology image: 08002loa – Histology Learning System at Boston University
- Diagram at dryeyezone.com
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![1:posterior segment 2:ora serrata 3:ciliary muscle 4:ciliary zonules 5:Schlemm's canal 6:pupil 7:anterior chamber 8:cornea 9:iris 10:lens cortex 11:lens nucleus 12:ciliary process 13:conjunctiva 14:inferior oblique muscule 15:inferior rectus muscule 16:medial rectus muscle 17:retinal arteries and veins 18:optic disc 19:dura mater 20:central retinal artery 21:central retinal vein 22:optic nerve 23:vorticose vein 24:bulbar sheath 25:macula 26:fovea 27:sclera 28:choroid 29:superior rectus muscle 30:retina](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Eye-diagram_no_circles_border.svg/200px-Eye-diagram_no_circles_border.svg.png)
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