Unpublished paper, 'On the anatomy and physiology of certain structures in the orbit not previously described' by J M Ferrall

Description

Ferrall describes a 'distinct fibrous tunic', which he names the tunica vaginalis oculi, and which is 'continuous with the tarsal cartilages and ligaments in front, and extending backwards to the bottom or apex of the orbit', thus completely insulating the globe of the eye, and keeping it apart from the muscles which move it. He explains how the eyeball 'is connected with this fibrous investment by a cellular tissue, so lax and delicate as to permit an easy and gliding motion between them'. He suggests that the purpose of the tunic is to protect the eyeball from the pressure of its muscles while they are in action. This tunic is perforated at its circumference, and a few lines posterior to its anterior margin, by six openings, through which the tendons of the muscles emerge in passing to their insertions, and over which, as over pullies, they play in their course. A consequence of this structure is that the recti muscles become capable of giving rotatory motions to the eye without occasioning its retraction within the orbit, and without exerting injurious pressure on that organ. In those animals which are provided with a proper retractor muscle, the recti muscles are, by means of this peculiar mechanism, enabled to act as antagonists to that muscle.

Contains two figures separate to the text. Annotations in pencil throughout. Marked on back as 'Archives 25 May 1841'.

Subject: Anatomy / Optometry

Received 21 April 1841. Communicated by Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie.

Whilst the Royal Society declined to publish this paper in full, an abstract of the paper was published in volume 4 of Abstracts of the Papers Printed in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London [later Proceedings of the Royal Society] as 'On the anatomy and physiology of certain structures in the orbit, not previously described'.

Reference number

AP/25/6

Earliest possible date

April 1841

Physical description

Ink and graphite pencil on paper

Page extent

24 pages

Format

Manuscript