AKN / Humans / Eyes / Cornea /
What is the Bowman’s membrane?
Bowman’s membrane is the layer just underneath the epithelium, which is the outermost portion of the cornea. (1)
The Bowman’s membrane is also known as the anterior limiting lamina, anterior elastic lamina. (2)
Where is the Bowman’s membrane located?
located between the superficial corneal epithelium and the corneal stroma in the cornea of the eye. (2)
Bowman’s layer lies immediately posterior to the epithelial basement membrane (EBM) and anterior to the stroma proper in humans, chickens, quail, zebra fish, deer, giraffe, antelope, California sea lions, guinea pig. (4)
What animals do NOT have a Bowman’s membrane?
Bowman’s layer is NOT found in dog, wolf, cat, tiger, lions, rabbit, pigs, cows, goats, or horses. (4)
What is the Bowman’s membrane made up of?
mostly made up of collagen fibers. (1)
It is composed of strong, randomly oriented collagen fibrils in which the smooth anterior surface faces the epithelial basement membrane and the posterior surface merges with the collagen lamellae of the corneal stroma proper. (2)
In Bowman’s layer, the individual collagen fibrils were interwoven densely to form a felt-like sheet. (4)
What type of collagen fibers is the Bowman’s membrane made up of? [?]
What happens if it is damaged?
Bowman’s layer is high resistance to penetration or damage; however, if it does become injured, it cannot regenerate, leading to its necessary replacement by epithelial tissue or stromal scar tissue. (3)
Resources
1. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/anatomy/bowman-s-membrane
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowman%27s_membrane
3. https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/the-ins-and-outs-of-corneal-wound-healing
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2071337/
