The anterior border membrane of the cornea ( Bowman's membrane , Bowman's membrane ) is a dense layer that separates the stroma from the anterior epithelium of the cornea of the eye . In an adult, the thickness of this layer is 8-12 microns ; in some species of mammals, it is absent. The layer was first described by an English ophthalmologist and anatomist William Bowman (1816–1892).
| Bowman's membrane | |
|---|---|
| lat l. limitans anterior corneae | |
 Human cornea. 1. corneal epithelium 2. Bowman's membrane 3. stroma of the cornea 4. Descemet's shell 5. corneal endothelium | |
| Catalogs | |
The Bowman membrane is cell free and consists of intertwined collagen fibrils and associated proteoglycans . When studying embryonic development, the synthesis of this layer by stromal cells is described, however, there is evidence of a possible contribution of the epithelium to the synthesis of fibrils.
The function of the Bowman's membrane is unclear: some scientists suggest that it allows you to achieve optimal smoothness of the epithelium and the accuracy of refraction. According to another hypothesis, thanks to it, interactions of the stroma with the epithelium are prevented, which can lead stromal cells to an activated state and interfere with the normal assembly of stromal lamellae and adequate healing of the cornea after wounds. There is also the idea that the Bowman membrane is just the result of the interaction of the stroma and epithelium, which does not play a critical role in itself [2] . Indeed, most mammalian species do without this layer.
Clinical Importance
Ruptures in the Bowman membrane are noted with keratoconus , keratotorus and bullous keratopathy .
A rare disease affecting this layer, corneal dystrophy of the Bowman’s membrane, type 1 , it is also Reis Bucklers dystrophy [3] , according to studies, in some cases is associated with mutations of the TGFBI gene [4] .
Literature
- Dohlman, Claes H .; Smolin, Gilbert; Azar, Dimitri T. Smolin and Thoft's The cornea: scientific foundations and clinical practice. - Hagerstwon, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2005 .-- ISBN 0-7817-4206-4 . - Bowman's membrane is described on page 8
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Foundational Model of Anatomy
- ↑ Wilson SE, Hong JW Bowman's layer structure and function: critical or dispensable to corneal function? A hypothesis (English) // Cornea : journal. - 2000 .-- July ( vol. 19 , no. 4 ). - P. 417-420 . - PMID 10928749 .
- ↑ CORNEAL DYSTROPHY OF BOWMAN LAYER, TYPE I; CDB1 - OMIM Genetic Database
- ↑ Tanhehco TY, Eifrig DE, Schwab IR, Rapuano CJ, Klintworth GK Two cases of Reis-Bücklers corneal dystrophy (granular corneal dystrophy type III) caused by spontaneous mutations in the TGFBI gene (Eng.) // Arch. Ophthalmol. : journal. - 2006 .-- April ( vol. 124 , no. 4 ). - P. 589-593 . - DOI : 10.1001 / archopht.124.4.589 . - PMID 16606891 . (inaccessible link)