Looking at an oft-overlooked part of the eye: a new perspective on ciliary body development in chick

The ciliary body is an essential tissue for the development and homeostasis of the vertebrate eye. Embryonically, the epithelial portion of the ciliary body derives from the neuroepithelium of the optic cup, however, it differentiates into a secretory tissue and produces an aqueous humor that sustains the lens and cornea, and maintains the requisite pressure within the orb. The unique differentiation of this portion of the optic cup is little understood. This article reviews what is known about the development of the ciliary body and presents some preliminary findings that may lead to a new model for the formation of the ciliary body.