Eyeballs

In this pathway, we will take a look at our own eyes and how they work. There are many ways to learn about the eye and its place in our visual system, including looking at the inside of a cow’s eye, looking into our own living eye, and experimenting with our vision.

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Cow’s Eye Dissection
*Cow eye dissections are conducted throughout the day at the demonstration table.*

Listen and Do:

1. What are two differences between a cow’s eye and a human eye?
   
2. What does it mean "to focus?"
   

   What parts of the eye do this?
   

   What happens to one of those parts when we shift our focus from far away to near?
   

3. What does the part of the cow’s eye called the "tapetum" allow the cow to do?
   When might we notice this feature in a live animal?

   
   In what animals have you noticed it?

    

4. What does the iris surround?

   
   What determines the size of that "hole" in your eye?

   
   What determines the color of your iris?

   More Experiments:

   (note: if you decide to touch the cow’s eye, you must wash your hands with hot water and soap afterwards)

5. Describe what the lens feels like.

    

6. What color does melanin stain your fingers?
   

Blood Vessels of the Eye

Remember seeing the red blood vessels in the back of the cow’s eye? Now look at your own!

Read and Do:

1. Why don’t we notice these vessels all the time?
   
2. Are these vessels in front of, or behind, our retina?
   
3. How do you know this?
   

Corpuscles of the Eye

Look inside your own eyeball!

Read and Do:

1. What do you see when you look at the blue light?
   
2. Do you notice any rhythm to the movement you see?What is this rhythm?
   

Macula

The macula is a part of your eye that helps you see in a deep blue sky.

Read and Do:

1. What do you notice when the light changes?
   
2. What is it that you are noticing?
   

Afterimage

Bright light can leave a lasting impression.

Read and Do:

1. What happens after the flash of light, when you look around you?
   
2. About how long does the effect last?
   
3. When have you noticed this effect before?
   

Pupil

This exhibit allows you to "manually override" what is usually an automatic body response.

Read and Do:

1. In what light is your pupil the biggest?
   
2. In what light is it the smallest?
   
3. How could you repeat this experiment at home?