ciliary muscle (Bowman's muscle)

Introduction

One of the three components of the ciliary body.

Function

• the ciliary muscle is a parasympathetically innervated smooth muscle facilitating changes in lens shape & thereby accommodation
• fibers innervating the ciliary muscle are components of CN 3 originating in the Edinger-Westphal nucleus, relaying in the ciliary ganglion.

Action

• contraction allows lens the thicken for near vision (accomodation)

Innervation

• parasympathetic
  • preganglionic fibers
    • cell bodies in Edinger-Westphal nucleus
    • fibers carried by oculomotor nerve (CN III)
  • postganglionic fibers
    • cell bodies in ciliary ganglion
    • fibers carried by short ciliary nerves

More general terms

• smooth muscle (unstriated/unstriped/visceral muscle)

Additional terms

• ciliary ganglion; lenticular ganglion; Schacher's ganglion
• Edinger-Westphal nucleus

Component of

• ciliary body