Ciliary muscle autonomic control

Complex organ control— the eye The eye contains multiple tissues with various functions, several of them under autonomic control (Figure 6-5). The pupil, discussed above, is under reciprocal control by the SANS (via alpha receptors) and the PANS (via muscarinic receptors) acting on two different muscles in the iris. The ciliary muscle, which controls accommodation, is under primary control of muscarinic receptors innervated by the PANS, with insignificant contributions from the SANS. The ciliary epithelium, on the other hand, has important beta receptors that have a permissive effect on aqueous humor secretion. 

The eye is a good example of an organ with multiple autonomic nervous system (ANS) functions, controlled by several autonomic receptors. As shown in Figure 6-9, the anterior chamber is the site of several autonomic effector tissues. These tissues include three muscles (pupillary dilator and constrictor muscles in the iris and the ciliary muscle) and the secretory epithelium of the ciliary body. 

A number of CWAs exert their effects by modulating neuronal control over ocular function (Table 38.2). Autonomic neurons provide input to the intrinsic ocular muscles (the sphincter pupillae, the dilator pupillae, and the ciliary muscle) and e lacrimal glands. Neuronal afferents in the eye include sensory neurons from the conjunctiva and cornea, reflexive contributions to the iris, ciliary muscle, and eyelids, and the densely innervated retina. Finally, the extraocular muscles and eyelids are controlled by cholinergic motor neuron inputs. 

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