conjunctiva

con·junc·ti·va  (knjngk-tv)

n. pl. con·junc·ti·vas or con·junc·ti·vae (-v)

The mucous membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and the exposed surface of the eyeball.

---

[Middle English, from Medieval Latin (membrna) coninctva, connective (membrane), feminine of Late Latin coninctvus, connective, from Latin coninctus, past participle of coniungere, to join together; see conjoin.]

---

conjunc·tival (-vl) adj.

---

conjunctiva

Noun

pl -vas or -vae the delicate mucous membrane that covers the eyeball and inner eyelid [New Latin membrana conjunctiva the conjunctive membrane]

conjunctival adj

---

conjunctiva  (knjngk-tv)

Plural conjunctivas or conjunctivae (knjngk-tv)

The mucous membrane that lines the inside of the eyelid and covers the surface of the eyeball.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

conjunctiva - a transparent lubricating mucous membrane that covers the eyeball and the under surface of the eyelid eye, oculus, optic - the organ of sight eyelid, lid, palpebra - either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye; "his lids would stay open no longer" bulbar conjunctiva, conjunctival layer of bulb, tunica conjunctiva bulbi - the part of the conjunctiva covering the anterior face of the sclera and the surface epithelium of the cornea conjunctival layer of eyelids, palpebra conjunctiva, tunica conjunctiva palpebrarum - the part of the conjunctiva lining the posterior surface of the eyelids; continuous with the bulbar conjunctiva pinguecula - a slightly elevated elastic tissue deposit in the conjunctiva that may extend to the cornea but does not cover it pterygium - either of two thickened triangular layers of conjunctiva extending from the nasal edge of the eye to the cornea; it arises from irritation of the pinguecula mucosa, mucous membrane - mucus-secreting membrane lining all body cavities or passages that communicate with the exterior