Descemet’s Membrane

Abstract

Descemet’s membrane is an extraordinary thick basement membrane, which is unique in the body with respect to both its dimension and composition. It is built by the cells of the flat squamous epithelium that lines the posterior surface of the cornea and is designated as corneal endothelium. Measuring 5–10 μm in thickness, the membrane of Descemet, like other basement membranes, consists of two distinct layers, a posterior layer adjacent to the endothelium and produced by the endothelial cells and an anterior layer formed by collagen lamellae and proteoglycans. Both layers are on display in panel A, which also shows the endothelium in the upper segment and the corneal stroma in the lower segment. The different organisation of the Descemet’s membrane in comparison to the collagen fibril organisation in the stroma is clearly visible. Panel B shows the posterior part of Descemet’s membrane at higher magnification.