Histomorphological Study of the Eyelid in Adult Marwari Goat (Capra hircus)

Abstract

The present study was carried out on the eyelid of the adult Marwari goat (Capra hircus). The eyelid was composed of an outermost layer of typical skin, orbicularis oculi muscle, tarsal plate and the innermost layer of the palpebral conjunctiva. The eyelids were covered externally with typical skin containing a dense coat of fine hairs. The follicles of eyelashes were located at the marginal part of skin and were devoid of arrector pili muscle. The roots of the large eyelashes were in close association with prominent sebaceous glands (glands of Zeis) and modified sweat glands (glands of Moll). Beneath the outermost layer, there was the orbicularis oculi muscles which was separated from the posterior epithelial lining of the eyelids (i.e. palpebral conjunctiva) by dens connective tissue, the tarsal plate. Within the tarsal plate, modified multilobular sebaceous glands (Meibomian or tarsal glands) were embedded. The palpebral conjunctiva was the innermost layer which consisted of the stratified cuboidal or columnar epithelium that became more squamous towards the margin of the eyelid. The tarsal gland, gland of Moll, gland of Zeis, ground substance of eye lids and the goblet cells in conjunctiva revealed a positive reaction for PAS.