[The importance of the ciliary muscle in controlling aqueous humor outflow in the human eye (author's transl)].

Complicated mechanisms are involved in changes in the ease of aqueous outflow in the chamber angle region. One of these mechanisms is described: The outer trabecular lamellae in the cribriform meshwork extending into the scleral spur should be regarded as tendons of the outer Brükke's muscle. Contraction of the muscle bundle leads to a histometrically measurable expansion of the inner wall of Schlemm's canal and thereby to an increase in the resorptive contact area. It may therefore be assumed that this part of the ciliary muscle is able to take part in the regulation of the outflow process, inasmuch as a contraction and other outflow regulation systems. The system described, and other outflow regulation systems, may therefore play a decisive role in respect of intraocular pressure levels.