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What is the Palpebral Conjunctiva?

Meg Brannagan
Meg Brannagan

The palpebral conjunctiva is the membrane that forms the underside of the eyelid. The conjunctiva is actually made up of two parts, the palpebral conjunctiva and the bulbar conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is essentially the link between several structures of the frontal portion of the eye. This includes the eyelids; the sclera, which is the thick, external layer of the eye; and the cornea, the front segment of the sclera that controls how much light enters the eye.

The eyelids, also called palpebrae, cover and protect the globe of the eye and consist of skin and muscles for the control of blinking. Eyelids also contain eye lashes, sweat glands, and lacrimal ducts, which produce tears. The interior aspect of the eyelid must be able to cover or close over the globe of the eye without sticking or rubbing the eyeball. The conjunctiva provides a smooth surface that allows the eyelid to glide over the globe for effective covering.

Infectious conjunctivitis results in inflammation and redness of the bulbar conjunctiva.
Infectious conjunctivitis results in inflammation and redness of the bulbar conjunctiva.

The palpebral conjunctiva also contains openings to lacrimal ducts, which provide moisture to the surface of the eye. This prevents chafing of the globe and can flush out small particles that may get in the eye. Larger amounts of tears that form from these ducts may fill the space of the open eye and spill outward or are drained down into the nose.

The palpebral conjunctiva is vascular and smooth, but the eye can become irritated quickly when small objects get behind the membrane. Sometimes an infection, which is called conjunctivitis, develops. This causes inflammation, drainage and swelling of the eyelid. Infectious conjunctivitis is commonly known as pink eye, which also results in inflammation and redness of the bulbar conjunctiva, giving the appearance of a pink or reddened eye. The condition is contagious, but not all conjunctivitis infections are; some other types may be caused by allergies or environmental irritants.

Irritation of the palpebral conjunctiva can sometimes cause infection.
Irritation of the palpebral conjunctiva can sometimes cause infection.

The palpebral conjunctiva is red because of the many small blood vessels housed in the membrane. This wealth of blood vessels, and the resulting color, means a physician may test for the presence of anemia by checking the palpebral conjunctiva and other mucous membranes, including the gums and nail beds. This is done by turning the eyelid back over a cotton swab to check the color of the underlying tissue. If it appears pale instead of its normal red color, the doctor may consider this as a potential indication of anemia.

Discussion Comments

pleonasm

I remember viral pink eye going around the school when I was a kid.

The worst thing about it was that it had a stigma attached to it, that you only got it if you didn't wash your hands after going to the toilet.

Of course, that is one of the causes of pink eye, but there are others as well. And, you might simply have shook hands with someone who hadn't washed their hands (which is worse, really!)

The teachers cracked down on us by making everyone use sanitizing fluid on their hands before every class and the epidemic soon stopped.

I'm just glad I didn't get it though, because some of those poor kids suffered a lot of teasing.

umbra21

There is nothing worse than the feeling that you've got something caught underneath your eyelid.

I find if you have this, the first thing you should do is use your eyelashes to pull your top eyelid over the bottom one. I know that sounds really weird, and I don't know why it works, but it often does.

Maybe because it stops your eyelashes from sticking into your eye?

If that doesn't work, get a friend to check and see if they can see anything stuck under there. But make sure you and your friend wash your hands first. Unwashed hands are one of the pink eye causes.

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    • Infectious conjunctivitis results in inflammation and redness of the bulbar conjunctiva.
      By: schankz
      Infectious conjunctivitis results in inflammation and redness of the bulbar conjunctiva.
    • Irritation of the palpebral conjunctiva can sometimes cause infection.
      By: Subbotina Anna
      Irritation of the palpebral conjunctiva can sometimes cause infection.
    • Conjunctivitis can develop as a result of an irritated palpebral conjunctiva.
      By: Stacy Barnett
      Conjunctivitis can develop as a result of an irritated palpebral conjunctiva.
    • The palpebral conjunctiva open to the tear ducts.
      By: Chepko Danil
      The palpebral conjunctiva open to the tear ducts.
    • The sclera is the thick external layer of the eye.
      By: stockshoppe
      The sclera is the thick external layer of the eye.