Organization of capillaries in the primate conjunctiva.

Conjunctival capillaries in the monkey were observed in histological sections to organize approximately parallel and close to the basement membrane of the epithelium, while larger vessels including the lymphatics were disposed deeper in the stroma. This peculiar vascular organization was evident in the palpebral but not in the bulbar conjunctiva. The trilaminar relationship that existed between the conjunctival epithelium, the elastic lamina previously described [1] and the capillaries is discussed. It was argued that such subepithelial capillary organization enhances the exchange of nutrients and gases between the cornea and the conjunctival vessels across the palpebral conjunctival epithelium when the lids are shut during sleep.