Our Eyes

Parts of the Eye and Function

All the optical instruments are of no use without a god gifted natural optical instrument given to all the human beings i.e. the human eye. Let us discuss the human eye in detail: Parts of Human Eye & Their Functions: The human eye is a ball about 2.5 cm in diameter. It consists of the following parts: 1) Sclerotic: Sclerotic is the outer coating of the eye which is white in colour, that protects the interior of the eye and provides the shape to the eye. 2) Cornea: The front part of sclerotic is transparent to light and is termed as cornea. The light coming from an object enters the eye through cornea. 3) Iris: Iris is just at the back of cornea. This controls the size of the pupil. It acts like a shutter of a photographic camer and allows the regulated amount of light to enter the eye. 4) Eye Lens: Eye lens is a double convex lens with the help of which image is formed at retina by refraction of light.

5) Ciliary Muscles: The eye lens is held by ciliary muscles. Ciliary muscles help the eye lens to change its focal length. 6) Pupil: At the centre of the iris there is a hole through which light falls on the lens, which is called pupil. 7) Aqueous humour : The space between cornea and eye lens is filled with a transparent fluid called aqueous humour. 8) Vitreous Humour: The space between eye lens and retina is filled with a jelly like transparent fluid called vitreous humour. 9) Retins : Retina serves the purpose of a screen in the eye, wherethe images of the objects are formed. Retina is at the back of the eye lens. Retins is made of light sensitive cells, which are connected to the optical nerve. 10) Optic Nerve: Optic nerve carries the information to brain. 11) Principal Axis 12) Blind Spot : The region of eye containing the optic nerve is not at all sensitive to light and is called blind spot. If the image of an object is formed in the blind spot, it is not visible. 13) Yellow Spot : The central part of retina lying on the optic axis of eye is most sensitive to light and is called yellow spot. 14) Eye Lids: Eye lids are provided to control the amount of light falling on the eye. They also protect the eye from dust particles etc.

Our Ear

Parts and Functions of the Ear

The outer ear is the external part of the ear, collects sound waves and passes them into the ear. It is a visible portion of the ear that serves as a protective organ for the eardrum. It has three parts-the pinna, auditory canal and ear drum. Pinna determines the source of sound and amplifies frequency of sound. Auditory canal is lined with skin and hairs which protect the eardrum by trapping dirt and foreign bodies. Modified sweat glands secrete cerumin to keep the canal moist. Eardrum receives the sound waves and transforms the sound energy into the mechanical energy. Middle ear collects the sound waves from the outer ear in the form of pressure waves. The middle ear is involved in transmitting sound from the outer ear to the inner ear.The

middle ear is an air-filled cavity and consists of three bones -malleus, incus, stapes and Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube functions to equalize air pressure of the eardrum. The vibrations from the ear drum are transmitted through malleus via incus and to stapes and reach the oval window which leads to the inner ear. The inner ear is small and is filled with a water-like substance and comprises both hearing and balancing organs.Inner ear contains the vestibule, semicircular canals, and the cochlea. The vestibule has oval window and the round window which connects the middle and inner ear and maintains equilibrium. Semicircular Canals are fluid-filled loops attached to the cochlea and helps in maintaining the balance. The cochlea is the site of the sense organs for hearing. In cochlea the hair-like nerve cells respond to various frequencies of vibrations and lead to generation of electrical impulses. Auditory Nerve passes electrical impulses to the brain. The semicircular canals and vestibule present in inner ear functions to sense movement (acceleration and deceleration) and static position of the body.

Our Skin

Parts of the Skin

Lower Dermis The various glands such as the oil and sweat glands originate in the lower dermis. From here, they rise to the surface of the skin to eliminate waste matter. Lower dermis also acts as a cushion for the rest of the skin. It contains the finely distributed muscles of the skin which regulate body temperature. Dermis The dermis is the layer that lies underneath the epidermis, and it is composed entirely of living cells. It consists of bundles of tough fibers which give your skin its elasticity, firmness and strength. There are also blood vessels, which feed vital nutrients to these areas. The most important function of dermis is respiration. The countless tiny blood vessels, or capillaries end here in finely-drawn networks, from where they feed the outer skin layer. Dermis also determines the tone of the skin. Epidermis This is the top layer of skin and the one you can actually see. It protects your body from invasion and infection and helps to seal in moisture. It's built up of several layers of living cells which are then topped by sheets of dead cells. It's constantly growing, with

new cells being produced at its base. They quickly die, and are pushed up to the surface by the arrival of new ones, These dead cells eventually flake away, which means that every new layer of skin is another chance to have a soft, glowing complexion. The lower levels of living cells are fed by the blood supply from underneath, whereas the upper dead cells only need water to ensure they're kept plump and smooth. The epidermis is responsible for your coloring, as it holds the skin's pigment. It ranges in thickness from l/20-th of an inch on the palms and soles, to 1/200-th of an inch on the face. The skin contains the following specialized organs: Sebaceous glands are tiny organs which usually open into hair follicles on the surface of your skin. They produce an oily secretion, called sebum, which is your skin's natural lubricant. The sebaceous glands are most concentrated on the scalp and face - particularly around the nose, cheeks, chin and forehead, which is why these are usually the most oily areas of your skin. Sweat glands are all over your body. There are millions of them and their main function is to regulate your body temperature. When sweat evaporates on the skin's surface, the temperature of your skin drops. Hairs grow from the hair follicles. They can help keep your body warm by trapping air underneath them. There are no hairs on the soles of your feet and palms of your hands

Our Tongue

Parts of the Tongue and their Function

Tongue is located inside the mouth and is an important muscle. It does not have any bones. It is reddish-pink in color. The main function of tongue is taste, help in chewing food, in swallowing food and speech. PARTS OF TONGUE: Papillae: Granular projection on the upper side of the tongue is known as papillae. There are four types of papillae there,
o o o o

Filiform (thread shaped) Fungiform (mushroom shaped) Foliate (leaf shaped) Vallate (ringed shaped)

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Sulcus terminalis Tonsils: They are present at the back of the tongue. There are two types of tongue,
o o

Lingual tonsils Palatine tonsils

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Adenoids Frenulum linguae: It is present on the under surface of the tongue.

Function of each Part of the Tongue

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Papillae: Papillae contains taste bud (chemo-receptors), which helps us identify between different tastes of food. When we chew food, a portion of it dissolves in the saliva. This dissolved part of food comes in contact with the taste buds and generates nerve impulses. These nerve fibres are known as microvilli. These nerve fibres carry messages to the taste center in the brain. Then brain perceives the taste.
o

Foliate, Vallate and Fungiform have taste buds which helps in identifying the taste

o y y y y

Filiform helps in holding the food ( to grip the food in place)

Tonsils: Both the types of tonsils helps in filtering germs. Adenoids: They help in fighting infections. Frenulum linguae: It secures or holds the tongue in place inside the mouth. Very small fibre-like or hair-like projections are present on the upper side of the tongue which connect with nerve fibres at the lower end of the tongue which lead to the brain.

Our Nose

parts of the nose NOSE

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Divided into two narrow passages by a thin wall of soft bone. Filter the air that goes into the lungs NOSTRILS

two openings of the nose where air enters. It lets air in and out of our lungs. NASAL CAVITY

allows the passage of air in and out of the nostrils. MUCUS

the membrane secretes a sticky fluid (fly paper) MUCUS MEMBRANE

sufficiently supplied with blood vessels close to the surface which warms the air. CILIA

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hair-like tissues (broom) Filter or sift dust and other particles in the air OLFACTORY NERVE

send message to the brain