ciliary muscle

Definition: the intrinsic smooth muscle of the ciliary body of eyeball; it consists of circular fibers [TA] (fibrae circulares [TA]), radial fibers [TA] (fibrae radialis [TA]), meridional fibers [TA] (fibrae meridionales [TA]), and longitudinal fibers [TA] (fibrae longitudinales [TA]); action, in contracting, its diameter is reduced (like a sphincter's), reducing tensile (stretching) forces on lens, allowing the lens to thicken for near vision (accommodation).

Synonym(s): musculus ciliarisTA, Bowman muscle, ciliary ligament

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