FUNCTION OF THE HUMAN EYE
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Function of the human eye
“Seeing" is the most complex of the six senses. In order for the brain to be able to get a picture of the surroundings, the eye must convert light into nerve impulses, which are subsequently routed through the optic nerve. Here, different parts of the eye have specific tasks. The primary ones being:
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the iris
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the cornea
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the lens
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the retina
The part of the eye giving it colour is called the iris. It consists of muscles, allowing it to enlarge and contract the pupil. The pupil is the round black opening at the centre of the iris through which light rays enter the eye. The iris and pupil control how much light is allowed to enter the eye. When it is very bright, the pupil contracts so we are not blinded. In the dark, it enlarges to allow as much light to enter as possible, so we can recognise our surroundings. The iris and the pupil are covered by a translucent layer: the cornea.