Prepare for the VisionFirst CEBT Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice quizzes, each offering hints and detailed explanations for optimized learning. Excel in your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which is the thick central layer of the cornea composed of a highly ordered matrix of collagen fibers?

The thick central layer is the stroma. It makes up the majority of the cornea and is built from a highly ordered matrix of collagen fibers arranged in regular lamellae. This precise organization, with uniform collagen fibril size and spacing, minimizes light scattering and preserves transparency while providing strength. Keratocytes lie between the lamellae to maintain the matrix. In contrast, stress lines or striae refer to other features or lines, not this central layer, and the uvea is a different, vascular layer located behind the cornea.

The thick central layer is the stroma. It makes up the majority of the cornea and is built from a highly ordered matrix of collagen fibers arranged in regular lamellae. This precise organization, with uniform collagen fibril size and spacing, minimizes light scattering and preserves transparency while providing strength. Keratocytes lie between the lamellae to maintain the matrix. In contrast, stress lines or striae refer to other features or lines, not this central layer, and the uvea is a different, vascular layer located behind the cornea.