What is the function of the pupil?
Quick Answer
The primary function of the human pupil is to regulate the amount of light that enters the eye. When the pupil is smaller, less light enters the eye in bright environments. The pupil gets larger as light levels decrease to let more light into the eye. Doctors examine the pupil to ascertain one's neurological function.
Continue Reading
Full Answer
Surrounding the pupil is the iris, the colored portion of the eye. The dilator and sphincter muscles in the iris control how wide the pupil gets. These muscles expand and contract to widen or shrink the aperture. Light enters the pupil, goes through the lens and focuses on the back of the eye.
Covering the pupil is the cornea, the clear outer layer of the eye that protects the pupil. After light hits the lens, the image is focused and the retina converts light into electrical signals interpreted by the brain due to the optic nerve.
Several conditions affect the amount of light gathered by the pupil. A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the front part of the eye that may cause light sensitivity. Myopia, or nearsightedness, prevents light from focusing properly at the back of the eye. Hyphema is a condition marked by bleeding in between the pupil and cornea. Hyphema requires urgent medical attention and surgery to correct the problem.
Learn more about Human AnatomyRelated Questions
-
Q:
What regulates the amount of light entering the eye?
A: The amount of light entering the human eye is regulated by the diameter of the pupil. The pupil is the dark spot at the center of a healthy iris that, acco... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What are some eye exercises you can do for better vision?
A: Eye exercises do not improve vision because the ability of the eye to see well is based on the shape of the eye, the eye's ability to shift focus and the s... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is Horner syndrome of the eye?
A: Horner, or Horner-Bernard, syndrome is a condition that occurs as a result of interruption of sympathetic nerve pathways to the eye, causing a drooping eye... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What causes a cloudy film over the eye?
A: According to the Eye Care Office of Ofner, Neale and Fleming, cataracts of the eye create a clouding of the lens inside the eye, behind the pupil or iris (... Full Answer >Filed Under:
You May Also Like
-
Q:
What is the function of the right lymphatic duct?
-
Q:
What are the two functions of the inner ear?
-
Q:
Which mnemonic device can help you remember steps in the critical thinking process?
-
Q:
What is the function of tRNA?
-
Q:
What are some facts about the index finger?
-
Q:
What is the function of the integumentary system?
