conjunctiva
nounUK /ˌkɒn.dʒʌŋ(k)ˈtʌɪ.və/ · US /ˌkɑnˌd͡ʒʌŋ(k)ˈtaɪ.və/
Etymology From 1540s late Middle English, borrowing from Medieval Latin conjūnctīva (“serving to connect, connective”, feminine), ellipsis of membrāna conjūnctīva (“conjunctive membrane”).
1
Anatomy, Medicine, Sciences A clear mucous membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and the exposed surface of the eyeball or sclera.
- There is a third inner eyelid, highly developed and of beautiful mechanism: this is the nictitating membrane, or "winker" (nictito, I wink), a delicate, elastic, translucent, pearly-white fold of the conjunctiva. While the other lids move vertically and have a horizontal commissure, the winker sweeps horizontally or obliquely across the ball, from the side next the beak to the opposite.1884, Elliott Coues, “§ 4.—An Introduction to the Anatomy of Birds.”, in Key to North American Birds. […], 2nd edition, Boston, Mass.: Estes and Lauriat, →OCLC, part II (General Ornithology), page 180:
- Derived terms
- blepharokeratoconjunctivitis, conjunctival, conjunctivitis, conjunctivo-, conjunctiv-, subconjunctiva
- Related terms
- conjunctivally, conjunctive