Figure 4­22
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The cornea covers the outer one-sixth of the eye and consists of three layers: stratified squamous epithelium and
its basement membrane, a middle stromal layer of dense connective tissue, and an inner simple cuboidal epithelium
Holdings,
and its basement membrane. Only the two outer layers are shown in this image.
The stratified squamous epithelium lies at the upper part of the field, and is four to five cell layers thick. The interface
LLC.
between the epithelium and the underlying tissue is smooth and even. The relatively thin epithelium allows for the
rapid and efficient diffusion of material to and from the surface without the need for papillation found in thicker epi-
Not
thelial tissues.
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152

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