ciliary, a.
(ˈʃɪlɪərɪ)
[f. L. type *ciliāri-us, f. cilium: cf. F. ciliaire, and see -ary.]
1. Of or pertaining to the eyelids or eyelashes.
ciliary body: the thickening of the anterior part of the choroid membrane. ciliary circle: = ciliary muscle. ciliary ganglion: a ganglion situated at the back part of the orbit between the optic nerve and the external rectus muscle: the lenticular or ophthalmic ganglion. ciliary ligament: the tissue connecting the edge of the iris with the choroid. ciliary muscle or ciliary circle: unstriped muscular fibres situated beneath the sclero-corneal junction behind the iris and around the margin of the lens. ciliary processes: the folds or plaits into which the anterior part of the choroid membrane is gathered around the crystalline lens. ciliary zone: ‘the appearance which the pigment between the ciliary processes leaves on the hyaloid membrane, like the disc of a flower’ (Syd. Soc. Lex.).
| 1691 Ray Creation ii. (1701) 261 The ciliary processes or rather the ligaments observed in the inside of the sclerotic tunicles..serve instead of a muscle by their contraction to alter the figure of the eye. 1741 A. Monro Anat. Nerves (ed. 3) 41 The In-side of the Eye as far forwards as the ciliary Circle. 1793 Young Vision in Phil. Trans. LXXXIII. 171 The contraction of the ciliary zone is equally inadequate and unnecessary. 1803 Med. Jrnl. IX. 240 The ciliary plexus, which is in part formed from the first branch of the fifth pair of nerves. 1831 R. Knox Cloquet's Anat. 547 Meibomian Glands or Ciliary Follicles. These are small round follicles, lodged in particular grooves, between the tarsal cartilages and the tunica conjunctiva. 1833 Brewster Nat. Magic ii. 36 A proof that the retina retains its power to its very termination near the ciliary processes. 1836–9 Todd Cycl. Anat. II. 282/1 The ciliary nerves all penetrate the sclerotic coat of the eye separately and obliquely. 1872 Huxley Phys. ix. 228 The so-called ciliary ligament. 1879 G. C. Harlan Eyesight iii. 41 The ciliary muscle does for the eye what the adjusting screw does for the opera glass. |
2. Pertaining to, or caused by, cilia (sense 3); esp. ciliary motion: the vibratile motion of the cilia, also locomotion by the vibration of the cilia.
| 1835–6 Todd Cycl. Anat. I. 609/1 The ciliary motion has been..observed in the embryo of Infusoria. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 154/1 The oyster is observed..by means of the ciliary organs..to create a continuous current of water. 1880 Bastian Brain 71 Their food being brought to the commencement of the alimentary canal by ciliary action. |