Which term refers to the capsule of the lens from the lens equator forward?

• A. anterior capsule
• B. posterior capsule
• C. iris capsule
• D. lens capsule

Answer: (A)

The term describing the portion of the lens capsule that lies in front of the equator is the anterior capsule. The lens is enclosed by a clear basement membrane with two main parts: the front portion, which covers the anterior surface and extends from the equator forward to the lens's front pole, and the back portion, which lies behind the equator toward the vitreous. The anterior capsule is thicker and houses the anterior lens epithelial cells, and it’s the part involved when surgeons perform a capsulorhexis to access the lens during cataract removal. The posterior capsule is the rear boundary toward the vitreous, and the term iris capsule isn’t a standard anatomical description. The lens capsule as a whole refers to the entire envelope around the lens, not just the front portion.