Aqueous humour

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Aqueous humour
Schematic diagram of the human eye en.svg
Schematic diagram of the human eye.
Latinhumor aquosus
Anatomical terminology

The aqueous humour is a transparent, watery[1] fluid similar to plasma, but containing low protein concentrations. It is secreted from the ciliary epithelium, a structure supporting the lens.[2] It fills both the anterior and the posterior chambers of the eye, and is not to be confused with the vitreous humour, which is located in the space between the lens and the retina, also known as the posterior cavity or vitreous chamber.[3]



Sodium = 142.09 Potassium = 2.2 - 4.0 Calcium = 1.8 Magnesium = 1.1 Chloride = 131.6 HCO3- = 20.15 Phosphate = 0.62 pH = 7.4 Osm = 304


  • Maintains the intraocular pressure and inflates the globe of the eye. It is this hydrostatic pressure which keeps the eyeball in a roughly spherical shape and keeps the walls of the eyeball taut.
  • May serve to transport ascorbate in the anterior segment to act as an antioxidant agent.
  • Provides inflation for expansion of the cornea and thus increased protection against dust, wind, pollen grains and some pathogens.
  • for refractive index.


Aqueous humour is secreted into the posterior chamber by the ciliary body, specifically the non-pigmented epithelium of the ciliary body (pars plicata). 5 alpha-dihydrocortisol, an enzyme inhibited by 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, may be involved in production of aqueous humour.[4]



The drainage route for aqueous humour flow is first through the posterior chamber, then the narrow space between the posterior iris and the anterior lens (contributes to small resistance), through the pupil to enter the anterior chamber. From there, the aqueous humour exits the eye through the trabecular meshwork into Schlemm's canal (a channel at the limbus, i.e., the joining point of the cornea and sclera, which encircles the cornea[5]) It flows through 25–30 collector canals into the episcleral veins. The greatest resistance to aqueous flow is provided by the trabecular meshwork (esp. the juxtacanalicular part), and this is where most of the aqueous outflow occurs. The internal wall of the canal is very delicate and allows the fluid to filter due to high pressure of the fluid within the eye.[5] The secondary route is the uveoscleral drainage, and is independent of the intraocular pressure, the aqueous flows through here, but to a lesser extent than through the trabecular meshwork (approx. 10% of the total drainage whereas by trabecular meshwork 90% of the total drainage).

The fluid is normally 15 mmHg (0.6 inHg) above atmospheric pressure, so when a syringe is injected the fluid flows easily. If the fluid is leaking, due to collapse and wilting of cornea, the hardness of the normal eye is therefore corroborated.[5]

Clinical significance[edit]

Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy where retinal ganglion cells and their axons die causing a corresponding visual field defect. An important risk factor is increased intraocular pressure (pressure within the eye) either through increased production or decreased outflow of aqueous humour.[6] Increased resistance to outflow of aqueous humour may occur due to an abnormal trabecular mesh work or to obliteration of the meshwork due to injury or disease of the iris. However, increased interocular pressure is neither sufficient nor necessary for development of primary open angle glaucoma, although it is a major risk factor. Uncontrolled glaucoma typically leads to visual field loss and ultimately blindness.

Uveoscleral outflow of aqueous humour can be increased with prostaglandin agonists, while trabecular outflow is increased by M3 agonists. Fluid production can be decreased by beta blockers, alpha2-agonists, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.[7]

Additional Images[edit]

See also[edit]

  1. ^ "Vitreous and Aqueous Humor".
  2. ^ Human Physiology. An Integrate approach. 5th edition. Dee Unglaub Silverthorn
  3. ^ "Eye Anatomy". WebMD. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  4. ^ Weinstein, B. I.; Kandalaft, N.; Ritch, R.; Camras, C. B.; Morris, D. J.; Latif, S. A.; Vecsei, P.; Vittek, J.; Gordon, G. G.; Southren, A. L. (1991). "5 alpha-dihydrocortisol in human aqueous humour and metabolism of cortisol by human lenses in vitro". Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 32 (7): 2130–35. PMID 2055703.
  6. ^ "Glaucoma Medications: Click for Facts About Side Effects".
  7. ^ Tao, Le. First aid for the USMLE Step 2 CS. Bhushan, Vikas., Lee, Kachiu., Deol, Maniver. (Sixth ed.). New York. p. 505. ISBN 9781259862441. OCLC 1011506616.

External links[edit]