Crypts of Henle
Encyclopedia
Crypts of Henle are microscopic pockets found in scattered sections of the conjunctiva
around the eyeball. They are responsible for secreting mucin
, a proteinous substance that makes up the inner layer of tears
. It coats the cornea
to provide a hydrophilic layer that allows for even distribution of the tear film. The layer of mucin allows tears to glide evenly across the eye’s surface. The crypts of Henle are named after German anatomist Friedrich Gustav Jakob Henle
(1809-1885).
Another anatomical structure called the glands of Manz perform a similar function. They are located in the eyeball's conjunctiva, arranged in a ring around the cornea, near the sclera
l junction. They also are responsible for secreting mucin into tears.
Conjunctiva
The conjunctiva covers the sclera and lines the inside of the eyelids. It is composed of rare stratified columnar epithelium.-Function:...
around the eyeball. They are responsible for secreting mucin
Mucin
Mucins are a family of high molecular weight, heavily glycosylated proteins produced by epithelial tissues in most metazoans. Mucins' key characteristic is their ability to form gels; therefore they are a key component in most gel-like secretions, serving functions from lubrication to cell...
, a proteinous substance that makes up the inner layer of tears
Tears
Tears are secretions that clean and lubricate the eyes. Lacrimation or lachrymation is the production or shedding of tears....
. It coats the cornea
Cornea
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Together with the lens, the cornea refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. In humans, the refractive power of the cornea is...
to provide a hydrophilic layer that allows for even distribution of the tear film. The layer of mucin allows tears to glide evenly across the eye’s surface. The crypts of Henle are named after German anatomist Friedrich Gustav Jakob Henle
Friedrich Gustav Jakob Henle
Friedrich Gustav Jakob Henle was a German physician, pathologist and anatomist. He is credited with the discovery of the loop of Henle in the kidney. His essay "On Miasma and Contagia" was an early argument for the germ theory of disease...
(1809-1885).
Another anatomical structure called the glands of Manz perform a similar function. They are located in the eyeball's conjunctiva, arranged in a ring around the cornea, near the sclera
Sclera
The sclera , also known as the white or white of the eye, is the opaque , fibrous, protective, outer layer of the eye containing collagen and elastic fiber. In the development of the embryo, the sclera is derived from the neural crest...
l junction. They also are responsible for secreting mucin into tears.