The vitreous membrane (or

hyaloid A hyaline substance is one with a glassy appearance. The word is derived from el, ὑάλινος, translit=hyálinos, lit=transparent, and el, ὕαλος, translit=hýalos, lit=crystal, glass, label=none. Histopathology Hyaline cartilage is ...

membrane or vitreous cortex) is a layer of collagen separating the

vitreous humour The vitreous body (''vitreous'' meaning "glass-like"; , ) is the clear gel that fills the space between the lens and the retina of the eyeball (the vitreous chamber) in humans and other vertebrates. It is often referred to as the vitreous humo ...

from the rest of the

eye Eyes are organs of the visual system. They provide living organisms with vision, the ability to receive and process visual detail, as well as enabling several photo response functions that are independent of vision. Eyes detect light and conv ...

. At least two parts have been identified anatomically. The posterior hyaloid membrane separates the rear of the vitreous from the

retina The retina (from la, rete "net") is the innermost, light-sensitive layer of tissue of the eye of most vertebrates and some molluscs. The optics of the eye create a focused two-dimensional image of the visual world on the retina, which then ...

. It is a false anatomical membrane. The anterior hyaloid membrane separates the front of the vitreous from the

lens A lens is a transmissive optical device which focuses or disperses a light beam by means of refraction. A simple lens consists of a single piece of transparent material, while a compound lens consists of several simple lenses (''elements'' ...

. Andres Bernal, Jean-Marie Parel, Fabrice Manns
Evidence for posterior zonular fiber attachment on the anterior hyaloid membrane
"Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science" 2006, 47, 4708-4713. Bernal et al. describe it "as a delicate structure in the form of a thin layer that runs from the

pars plana The ''pars plana'' (also known as ''orbicularis ciliaris'' ) (Latin: flat portion) is part of the ciliary body in the uvea (or vascular tunic), the middle layer of the three layers that comprise the eye. It is about 4 mm long, located near th ...

to the posterior lens, where it shares its attachment with the

posterior zonule Posterior may refer to: * Posterior (anatomy), the end of an organism opposite to its head ** Buttocks, as a euphemism * Posterior horn (disambiguation) * Posterior probability, the conditional probability that is assigned when the relevant evidenc ...

via Weigert's ligament, also known as Egger's line".

References

External links

Image at ivy-rose.co.uk
Human eye anatomy {{eye-stub