ciliary muscle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1+ (Specialized)Technical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “ciliary muscle” mean?
A ring of smooth muscle fibers in the eye's middle layer (uvea) that controls the shape of the lens for focusing (accommodation).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A ring of smooth muscle fibers in the eye's middle layer (uvea) that controls the shape of the lens for focusing (accommodation).
In anatomy, any small muscle associated with hair-like structures; in ophthalmology, specifically the muscle responsible for changing lens curvature to adjust focus from distant to near objects.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. British texts may use 'ciliary body' more frequently as the overarching anatomical term.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both regions.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency outside ophthalmology, optometry, and anatomy contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “ciliary muscle” in a Sentence
The ciliary muscle contracts to thicken the lens.Paralysis affects the ciliary muscle.Innervation is supplied to the ciliary muscle.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ciliary muscle” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- ciliary muscle action
- ciliary muscle function
American English
- ciliary muscle spasm
- ciliary muscle paralysis
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in medical, biological, and optometry textbooks and research.
Everyday
Extremely rare; only in detailed discussions about eye health or vision correction.
Technical
Core term in ophthalmology, optometry, anatomy, and physiology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ciliary muscle”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ciliary muscle”
- Mispronouncing 'ciliary' as /kaɪˈlɛəri/ instead of /ˈsɪliəri/.
- Using it as a countable noun in a general sense (e.g., 'I have a ciliary muscle') rather than referring to the specific anatomical structure.
- Confusing with 'cilia' (microscopic hair-like structures).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an involuntary smooth muscle, controlled automatically by the autonomic nervous system.
It relaxes the tension on the zonular fibers, allowing the natural lens to become more convex (rounded), which increases its refractive power for near vision (accommodation).
While some 'eye exercises' claim to do this, there is no strong scientific evidence that voluntary exercises can significantly strengthen this involuntary muscle or reverse presbyopia (age-related loss of accommodation).
A condition where the ciliary muscle contracts and cannot fully relax, causing difficulty focusing on distant objects and often eye strain or headache. It can be caused by excessive near work or certain medications.
A ring of smooth muscle fibers in the eye's middle layer (uvea) that controls the shape of the lens for focusing (accommodation).
Ciliary muscle is usually technical/medical in register.
Ciliary muscle: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪliəri ˈmʌsəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪliˌɛri ˈmʌsəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SILLY ARMY' – a silly army inside your eye that makes the lens bulge to read a text (silly= ciliary, army= muscle action).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE EYE'S AUTOFOCUS MECHANISM: The ciliary muscle is the tiny motor that automatically adjusts the lens, like a camera's autofocus system.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of the ciliary muscle?