Morphological significance of the pectineal ligament of the eye.
We have studied the arrangement of the pectineal ligament or its equivalent, the uveal trabecula, in herbivores, carnivores, primates and humans. From our investigations, the pectineal ligament, the uveal trabecula and the so-called processes of the iris form a morphological unit that is made up of the tendinous fibres of the longitudinal portion of the ciliary muscle, that are inserted into the periphery of Descemet's membrane and send out ahead prolongations that extend to the anterior face of the iris. The so-called processes of the iris cannot be considered as independent structures since they represent the innermost fibres of the trabecular or uveal meshwork; in some species these have a thicker appearance, an arrangement that can occasionally be found in the human eye.
D002612:Acinonyx / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000818:Animals; D002144:Callithrix / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002143:Callitrichinae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002335:Carnivora / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003670:Deer / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005123:Eye / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007498:Iris / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014602:Uvea / Q000648:ultrastructure