Circular cartilage ringing the posterior portion of the eye in the sclera. Supports the eye. [ http://www.fishbase.org/glossary/Glossary.php?q=scleral+cartilage ]
Synonyms: scleral cartilage element sclerotic cartilage
Term information
- ZFA:0001509
- TAO:0001509
consider distinguishing cup from predecessor of ossicle. Hall: The scleral cartilaginous cup is a distinctly sepa- rate element composed of hyaline cartilage
relationship to sclera - overlaps?
Bilaterally paired thin continuous band of cartilage that sagittally encircles the eye.[TAO]
May be calcified in chondrichthyans. Tetrapods without this element (e.g., snakes and mammals) have a collagenous sclera. May not be homologous - see http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17051547. cup-shaped in birds. Present in monotremes.