The structure of a cat's eyes has its own characteristics. All breeders of these wayward and proud animals need to know the peculiarities of the life of cats and the rules of caring for them. The most unprotected feline organ is the eye, so taking care of your cat's eyes should be special.
Like all other animals, a cat needs a second eyelid in order to clean the surface of the eyes from dust, litter, and impurities. It is also called the inner eyelid of the cat. Also, it is with the second eyelid that cats moisturize the surface of the eyes and rinse the eyes. The inner eyelid of the cat is large enough to completely cover the surface of the eye when the cat is sleeping, providing additional protection.
The structure of the inner (second) century in a cat
The cat's second eyelid is also called the blinker membrane, which is the thinnest fold of the conjunctiva. It is located directly on the body of the eyeball in the medial angle. On the one hand, the fold of the conjunctiva covers the inner side of the outer eyelids, on the other, the very cornea of the cat's eye itself. Thus, the fold protects both the outer eyelid of the cat and the very surface of the eye.
In the bulbar surface of the conjunctival fold, there are areas of lymphoid follicles that are quite dense to the touch. It is these follicles that are in close contact with the surface of the cat's eye. The tear film of the cat's eye is also located here. These structures perform the functions of the lymph nodes of the cat's eye, continuously protecting it from litter, small debris, dirt and dust.
Exact functions of the inner (second) eyelid in a cat
The exact functions of the second eyelid in a cat are still not fully understood by scientists. Research has been going on for a long time, and scientists are constantly discovering some new nuances of this organ. It is believed that the inner eyelid of the cat protects the thin and delicate cornea from numerous injuries that would occur when the cat moves through bushes and tall grass, as well as during hunting.
Even if minor damage to the surface of the eyelid or the cornea appears, the fold of the conjunctiva flushes and heals these injuries without the fate of the cat itself. The presence of the appendages of the lacrimal glands in it makes it possible to continuously produce an increased amount of tear fluid, which washes the surface of the eyes, in contrast to primates.
It is the inner eyelid of the cat that provides additional immunological protection against all kinds of pathogenic bacteria and fungi that live in huge quantities on the surface of the eye in the cat family. Due to these features of the structure of the eye, cats can see perfectly in complete darkness, which allows them to hunt even at night.
