A smooth muscle plexus associated with the aqueous outflow pathway of the rabbit eye

Smooth muscle cells were demonstrated adjacent to the aqueous outflow pathway in rabbit eyes. The cells were arranged as a discontinuous band, one to three layers thick and extended from the termination of Descemet's membrane to the ciliary body. Most of the cells were oriented with their long axes at right angles to the aqueous plexus, but many were arranged in a direction parallel to the plexus. The organization of the cells suggests that their contraction would exert a bi-directional force, and therefore, affect aqueous outflow resistance.