What is the conjunctiva? The conjunctiva is a thin, clear membrane that protects your eye. It covers the inside of your eyelid and the white of your eye (the sclera). Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy.

In the anatomy of the eye, the conjunctiva (pl.: conjunctivae) is a thin mucous membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the sclera (the white of the eye). [1] .

Jan 20, 2025 · The conjunctiva is a thin membrane lining the inside of your eyelids (both upper and lower) and the outer portion of the sclera (white part of the eye). It doesn't cover the cornea, the clear covering on the front of the eye. The conjunctiva is very thin and practically transparent. Except for the blood vessels, all tissue underneath is visible.

Feb 27, 2019 · The conjunctiva is the clear, thin membrane that covers part of the front surface of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids. It has two segments: Bulbar conjunctiva. This portion of the conjunctiva covers the anterior part of the sclera (the “white” of the eye).

Aug 28, 2023 · It lines the inside of the eyelids and provides a covering to the sclera. It is highly vascularized and home to extensive lymphatic vessels. The conjunctiva can be divided into three regions: the palpebral or tarsal conjunctiva, the bulbar or …

Sep 21, 2023 · The conjunctiva is a thin layer of clear tissue that lines the inside of the eyelid and covers the white of the eye (sclera). This mucous membrane makes fluids to keep the eye moist, produce tears, and protect it from foreign bodies and infections.

The conjunctiva lines the back of the eyelids (palpebral or tarsal conjunctiva), crosses the space between the lid and the globe (forniceal conjunctiva), then folds back on itself as it spreads over the sclera to the cornea (bulbar conjunctiva). The conjunctiva contributes to the tear film and protects the eye from foreign objects and infection.

Jan 22, 2025 · The conjunctiva is a thin, transparent mucous membrane that covers the front surface of the eye and lines the inner surface of the eyelids. It plays a crucial role in protecting the eye by providing a smooth and moist surface, and it …

Nov 8, 2023 · The conjunctiva is a thin, clear membrane that covers the inner surface of the eyelid and the white part of the eyeball (the sclera). It contains many tiny blood vessels. Inflammation of the conjunctiva is called conjunctivitis. It makes the surface over the white part of the eye look red. Dutton JJ. Clinical anatomy of the eyelids.

The conjunctiva is basically transparent because it is a thin organ, only composed of a narrow epithelium and a mostly equally thin connective tissue lamina propria with support structures like blood vessels, nerve fibers and defense cells.