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Anterior chamber
The cavity in the eye lying in front of the iris and lens.
Anterior chamber angle
The margin of the anterior chamber, where the cornea meets the iris. This is where the 'trabecular meshwork' (ie, gutter) drains water from the eye. Closure of the angle, for example, by tumour, causes glaucoma, which may be painful.
Benign
The tendency for a tumour to show slow and limited growth without breaking surrounding barriers and without seeding to other parts of the body.
Cancer
A group of diseases characterized by the formation of a neoplastic tumour having the capacity to invade surrounding tissues and colonize distant parts of the body.
Cell
The fundamental 'building block' of the human body. The cell is like a bag filled with fluid (i.e., cytoplasm) containing a number of structures, such as: (1) the nucleus, housing genetic material (as DNA coiled to form chromosomes; (2) mitochondria, dealing with energy; and (3) ribosomes, producing proteins.
Choroid
A vascular and deeply pigmented tissue lining, which is sandwiched between the retina and the sclera. The choroid is shaped like a semi-circular cup or bowl.
Chromosome
A rod like structure consisting of coiled DNA, comprising inherited genes encoding the structure and function of the cell. There are normally 23 pairs of chromosomes in each cell.
Ciliary body
A ring of tissue lying at the rim of the choroid and comprising the pars plicata, which is corrugated, and the pars plana, which is flat. The parts plicata pumps water into the eye and stretches the zonular fibres holding the lens.
Conjunctiva
A transparent membrane loosely covering the white of the eye and lining the inner surface of the eyelids.
Cornea
The transparent 'window' of the eye, through which the coloured iris and the black pupil are visible.
Cytogenetic studies
These studies examine the chromosomes (i.e., the DNA) inside the tumour cells so as to identify abnormalities known to be related to tumour behaviour. Mutations occurring in tumour cells are not passed on to children, unlike mutations in eggs or sperm cells.
The cavity in the eye lying in front of the iris and lens.
Anterior chamber angle
The margin of the anterior chamber, where the cornea meets the iris. This is where the 'trabecular meshwork' (ie, gutter) drains water from the eye. Closure of the angle, for example, by tumour, causes glaucoma, which may be painful.
Benign
The tendency for a tumour to show slow and limited growth without breaking surrounding barriers and without seeding to other parts of the body.
Cancer
A group of diseases characterized by the formation of a neoplastic tumour having the capacity to invade surrounding tissues and colonize distant parts of the body.
Cell
The fundamental 'building block' of the human body. The cell is like a bag filled with fluid (i.e., cytoplasm) containing a number of structures, such as: (1) the nucleus, housing genetic material (as DNA coiled to form chromosomes; (2) mitochondria, dealing with energy; and (3) ribosomes, producing proteins.
Choroid
A vascular and deeply pigmented tissue lining, which is sandwiched between the retina and the sclera. The choroid is shaped like a semi-circular cup or bowl.
Chromosome
A rod like structure consisting of coiled DNA, comprising inherited genes encoding the structure and function of the cell. There are normally 23 pairs of chromosomes in each cell.
Ciliary body
A ring of tissue lying at the rim of the choroid and comprising the pars plicata, which is corrugated, and the pars plana, which is flat. The parts plicata pumps water into the eye and stretches the zonular fibres holding the lens.
Conjunctiva
A transparent membrane loosely covering the white of the eye and lining the inner surface of the eyelids.
Cornea
The transparent 'window' of the eye, through which the coloured iris and the black pupil are visible.
Cytogenetic studies
These studies examine the chromosomes (i.e., the DNA) inside the tumour cells so as to identify abnormalities known to be related to tumour behaviour. Mutations occurring in tumour cells are not passed on to children, unlike mutations in eggs or sperm cells.
