Lamellar orientation in human cornea in relation to mechanical properties.
We have applied wide-angle X-ray scattering to the human cornea in order to quantify the relative number of stromal collagen fibrils directed along the two preferred corneal lamellar directions: superior-inferior and nasal-temporal. The data suggest that, on average, the two directions are populated in equal proportion at the corneal centre. Here, approximately one-third of the fibrils throughout the stromal depth tend to lie within a 45 degrees sector of the superior-inferior meridian, and similarly for the nasal-temporal direction. However, in some eyes we have measured significant differences between the two preferential fibril populations, with some corneas exhibiting as much as 25% more collagen in one direction than the other. Based on these findings, a mechanical model of the normal cornea may be envisaged, whereby the fibril tension in the underlying "background" of isotropically arranged collagen helps to balance the intraocular pressure; while the extra preferentially aligned fibrils take up the additional tensile stress along the superior-inferior and nasal-temporal meridians exerted by the rectus muscles and the orbicularis. It is possible that, through a direct impact on the elastic modulus of the tissue, an imbalance of superior-inferior and nasal-temporal fibrils in some eyes might affect corneal shape.
Boote
Craig
C
Structural Biophysics Group, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Wales, UK. bootec@cf.ac.uk
Dennis
Sally
S
Huang
Yifei
Y
Quantock
Andrew J
AJ
Meek
Keith M
KM
D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D019563:Mechanics; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods
D003094:Collagen