COW EYE ANATOMY LAB
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Obtain a cow eye (work in pairs) and rinse it well. Identify each of the structures in the
below Checklist and place a sticky circle on the part. Take pictures of the cow eye and
show your instructor your labeled specimen or pictures of your labeled specimen. When
you have committed the structures to memory, place a checkmark in the box beside
them. (46% of this lab grade)
The location of some of these structures will require a coronal section of the eye to be
done in the following manner (see picture below):
a. Hold the eyeball so that the cornea is in a superior position and make an
incision approximately ½ inch from the edge of the cornea.
b. Cut around the periphery of the cornea leaving a “hinge” of attachment.
c. Carefully separate the eye into anterior and posterior portions. As you do
so, try to gently loosen the vitreous humor from the lens, leaving the lens
in the anterior third of the eye and the vitreous humor in the posterior
portion of the eye.
Compare the anatomy of the human and cow eye, noting differences. Be certain to note
the tapetum lucidum, a special structure not present in the human eye. Its function is to
reflect some light back onto the retina. This structure is only found in vertebrates that
live under conditions of low light intensity (it allows for better night vision), and it causes
the animal’s eyes to shine in the dark. Also, be aware that the preservative often causes
opacity of the normally transparent cornea and lens as well as some discoloration of the
vitreous humor.
THE COW EYE CHECKLIST
Structure name √ Structure name √ Structure name √
Sclera (Fibrous Layer) Posterior Cavity Vitreous Humor
Cornea Extrinsic Eye Muscles Pupil
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, Structure name √ Structure name √ Structure name √
Choroid (Vascular Anterior Cavity Lens
Layer)
Ciliary Body of the Aqueous Humor Tapetum
Choroid Lucidum
Iris of the Choroid Retina (Nervous Optic Nerve
Layer)
2. As you identify the structures, answer the questions below (20% of this lab grade) (5 points
each).
A. What differences do you note between the human and cow eye?
Human Eyes lack tapetum lucidum, Cow Eyes are more Oval-Shaped compared to the
human eye. The Sclera of the cow Eye is thicker than ours.
B. What is the tapetum lucidum?
Tapetum Lucidum is a reflective layer in the eye that animals have to effectively see in
the dark that humans do not have. It is also the reason the eyes of these animals’ glow
when captured by a photo.
C. What is the function of the tapetum lucidum in the cow eye?
The function of Tapetum Lucidum is to enhance Vison in the dark, Effectively Night
Vison.
D. What are the functions of the cornea?
It bends light to focus onto the retina, Its serves as a barrier from dust and debris that
might make its way into your eye, Filters UV light
E. What is the function of the extrinsic eye muscles, and which three cranial nerves
innervate them?
Extrinsic Eye Muscles control the motor movement of the eyeball itself
(The ability to look up, down, left or right) The Three Cranial Nerves would
be the Oculomotor Nerve the Trochlear Nerve and Abducens Nerve.
This study source was downloaded by 100000901307859 from CourseHero.com on 11-14-2025 08:18:01 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/250728759/BIO210CowEyeAnatomyFA2024-Completedocx/
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Obtain a cow eye (work in pairs) and rinse it well. Identify each of the structures in the
below Checklist and place a sticky circle on the part. Take pictures of the cow eye and
show your instructor your labeled specimen or pictures of your labeled specimen. When
you have committed the structures to memory, place a checkmark in the box beside
them. (46% of this lab grade)
The location of some of these structures will require a coronal section of the eye to be
done in the following manner (see picture below):
a. Hold the eyeball so that the cornea is in a superior position and make an
incision approximately ½ inch from the edge of the cornea.
b. Cut around the periphery of the cornea leaving a “hinge” of attachment.
c. Carefully separate the eye into anterior and posterior portions. As you do
so, try to gently loosen the vitreous humor from the lens, leaving the lens
in the anterior third of the eye and the vitreous humor in the posterior
portion of the eye.
Compare the anatomy of the human and cow eye, noting differences. Be certain to note
the tapetum lucidum, a special structure not present in the human eye. Its function is to
reflect some light back onto the retina. This structure is only found in vertebrates that
live under conditions of low light intensity (it allows for better night vision), and it causes
the animal’s eyes to shine in the dark. Also, be aware that the preservative often causes
opacity of the normally transparent cornea and lens as well as some discoloration of the
vitreous humor.
THE COW EYE CHECKLIST
Structure name √ Structure name √ Structure name √
Sclera (Fibrous Layer) Posterior Cavity Vitreous Humor
Cornea Extrinsic Eye Muscles Pupil
This study source was downloaded by 100000901307859 from CourseHero.com on 11-14-2025 08:18:01 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/250728759/BIO210CowEyeAnatomyFA2024-Completedocx/
, Structure name √ Structure name √ Structure name √
Choroid (Vascular Anterior Cavity Lens
Layer)
Ciliary Body of the Aqueous Humor Tapetum
Choroid Lucidum
Iris of the Choroid Retina (Nervous Optic Nerve
Layer)
2. As you identify the structures, answer the questions below (20% of this lab grade) (5 points
each).
A. What differences do you note between the human and cow eye?
Human Eyes lack tapetum lucidum, Cow Eyes are more Oval-Shaped compared to the
human eye. The Sclera of the cow Eye is thicker than ours.
B. What is the tapetum lucidum?
Tapetum Lucidum is a reflective layer in the eye that animals have to effectively see in
the dark that humans do not have. It is also the reason the eyes of these animals’ glow
when captured by a photo.
C. What is the function of the tapetum lucidum in the cow eye?
The function of Tapetum Lucidum is to enhance Vison in the dark, Effectively Night
Vison.
D. What are the functions of the cornea?
It bends light to focus onto the retina, Its serves as a barrier from dust and debris that
might make its way into your eye, Filters UV light
E. What is the function of the extrinsic eye muscles, and which three cranial nerves
innervate them?
Extrinsic Eye Muscles control the motor movement of the eyeball itself
(The ability to look up, down, left or right) The Three Cranial Nerves would
be the Oculomotor Nerve the Trochlear Nerve and Abducens Nerve.
This study source was downloaded by 100000901307859 from CourseHero.com on 11-14-2025 08:18:01 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/250728759/BIO210CowEyeAnatomyFA2024-Completedocx/
