Schlemm's canal
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Canal of Schlemm)
| Schlemm's canal |
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| Enlarged general view of the iridial angle. (Labeled with older label of 'sinus venosus scleræ' at center top.) |
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| The upper half of a sagittal section through the front of the eyeball. (Canal of Schlemm labeled at center left.) |
| Latin |
sinus venosus sclerae |
| Gray's |
subject #225 1005 |
Schlemm's canal, also known as canal of Schlemm or the scleral venous sinus, is a circular channel in the eye that collects aqueous humor from the anterior chamber and delivers it into the bloodstream via the anterior ciliary veins.[1]
The canal is essentially an endothelium-lined tube, resembling that of a lymphatic vessel. On the inside of the canal, nearest to the aqueous humor, it is covered by the trabecular meshwork, this region makes the greatest contribution to outflow resistance of the aqueous humor.
Named after Friedrich Schlemm (1795–1858), a German anatomist.
[edit] Role in glaucoma
The canal transfers approximately 2-3 microliters of aqueous humor per minute.[2] If debris builds up, due to infection or injury in the aqueous humor, the canal is blocked and glaucoma is the result.
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[edit] References
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