Functions of Accessory Structures of the Human Eye

Control the movement of the eyeball​ (a)  

• Extrinsic Eye Muscles
• Eyelashes
• Upper & Lower Eyelid
• Medial Commissure
• Lateral Commissure
• Tarsal Glands
• Ciliary Glands
• Conjunctiva
• Lacrimal Glands
• Palpebral Fissure

Protect the ventral surface of the eyeball from external factors. ​ (a)  

• Eyelashes
• Extrinsic Muscles
• Medial Commissure
• Lateral Commissure
• Tarsal Glands
• Ciliary Glands
• Conjunctiva
• Lacrimal Glands
• Palpebral Fissure
• Upper & Lower Eyelids

Contribute to eye shape by allowing upper and lower lids to connect at the aspect of eye closest to nose. (a)  

• Eyelashes
• Extrinsic Muscles
• Medial Commissure
• Lateral Commissure
• Tarsal Glands
• Ciliary Glands
• Conjunctiva
• Lacrimal Glands
• Palpebral Fissure
• Upper & Lower Eyelids

Contribute to eye shape by allowing upper and lower lids to connect at the aspect of eye closest to temples. (a)  

• Eyelashes
• Extrinsic Muscles
• Medial Commissure
• Tarsal Glands
• Ciliary Glands
• Conjunctiva
• Lacrimal Glands
• Palpebral Fissure
• Upper & Lower Eyelids
• Lateral Commissure

Protective structures that catch or swat away objects from the ventral surface of the eyeball ​ (a)  

• Eyelashes
• Extrinsic Muscles
• Medial Commissure
• Tarsal Glands
• Ciliary Glands
• Conjunctiva
• Lacrimal Glands
• Palpebral Fissure
• Upper & Lower Eyelids
• Lateral Commissure

Produce and excrete oily substances that lubricate the eye from the superficial edge of each eyelid​ ​ (a)  

• Extrinsic Muscles
• Medial Commissure
• Tarsal Glands
• Ciliary Glands
• Conjunctiva
• Lacrimal Glands
• Palpebral Fissure
• Upper & Lower Eyelids
• Lateral Commissure
• Eyelashes

Produce and excrete sweat from between each eyelash​ (a)  

• Cornea
• Lacrimal Canaliculi
• Nasolacrimal Duct
• Ciliary Glands
• Conjunctiva
• Lacrimal Glands
• Pupil
• Lacrimal Apparatus
• Sclera
• Iris

Secretes mucus to moisten and lubricate the eye​ from the superficial surface of the cornea and eyelids (a)  

• Cornea
• Lacrimal Canaliculi
• Nasolacrimal Duct
• Ciliary Glands
• Conjunctiva
• Lacrimal Glands
• Pupil
• Lacrimal Apparatus
• Sclera
• Iris

Collection of structures that produce tears and drain secretions into the nasal cavity (a)  

• Cornea
• Lacrimal Canaliculi
• Nasolacrimal Duct
• Ciliary Glands
• Conjunctiva
• Lacrimal Glands
• Pupil
• Lacrimal Apparatus
• Sclera
• Iris

Maintains the eyeball's spherical shape (a)  

• Cornea
• Lacrimal Canaliculi
• Nasolacrimal Duct
• Ciliary Glands
• Conjunctiva
• Lacrimal Glands
• Pupil
• Lacrimal Apparatus
• Iris
• Sclera