‖ conjunctiva Anat.
(kɒndʒʌŋkˈtaɪvə)
[mod.L.; short for membrāna conjunctīva ‘conjunctive membrane’: see conjunctive.]
The mucous membrane which lines the inner surface of the eyelids and is reflected over the front of the eye-ball, thus conjoining this with the lids.
| 1543 Traheron Vigo's Chirurg. (1586) 435 Conjunctiva the seaventh skinne of the eie. 1622 R. Banister Dis. Eyes iv, Opthalmia is an inflammation of the membrane in the eye named conjunctiva. 1772 Priestley Hist. Vision, etc. II. 795 The sclerotes, conjunctiva and eyelids..retain their sensibility. 1880 Gunther Fishes 113 It is crossed by a dark horizontal stripe of the conjunctiva. |