What is the function of the suspensory ligaments in the eye?

• A. A series of fibres that hold the lens of the eye in place
• B. The nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain
• C. The area in the back of the eye responsible for color vision
• D. The membrane that covers the outer surface of the eyeball

Answer: (A)

The suspensory ligaments, or zonules, form a network that anchors the lens to the ciliary body, holding the lens in place and centered inside the eye. They transmit the changing tension from the ciliary muscle to the lens, allowing the lens to change shape for focusing (accommodation). When the ciliary muscle contracts for near vision, it reduces tension on the ligaments, letting the lens become more curved to increase refractive power. For distant vision, the muscle relaxes, the ligaments pull on the lens to flatten it and decrease refractive power.

The other options describe different structures: a nerve that carries signals to the brain (optic nerve), the retinal area involved in color vision (retina/macula), and the outer protective layer covering the eyeball (sclera/conjunctiva).