Descemet's membrane
Vertical section of human cornea from near the margin. (Waldeyer.) Magnified. Epithelium Anterior elastic lamina substantia propria Posterior elastic lamina. (Descemet's membrane) Endothelium of theanterior chamber Oblique fibers in the anterior layer of thesubstantia propria Lamellae, the fibers of which are cut across, producing a dotted appearance Corneal corpuscles appearingfusiform in section Lamellae, the fibers of which are cut longitudinally Transition to thesclera, with more distinct fibrillation, and surmounted by a thickerepithelium Small blood vessels cut across near the margin of thecornea
Details
Pronunciation	English:/ˈdɛsəmeɪ/
Location	Cornea ofeye
Identifiers
Latin	l. limitans posterior corneae
MeSH	D003886
TA98	A15.2.02.021
FMA	58309
Anatomical terms of microanatomy [edit on Wikidata]

Descemet's membrane (or theDescemet membrane) is thebasement membrane that lies between the corneal proper substance, also calledstroma, and theendothelial layer of thecornea. It is composed of different kinds of collagen (Type IV and VIII)^[1] than the stroma. The endothelial layer is located at the posterior of the cornea. Descemet's membrane, as the basement membrane for the endothelial layer, is secreted by the single layer of squamous epithelial cells that compose the endothelial layer of the cornea.

Its thickness ranges from 3 μm at birth to 8–10 μm in adults.^[2]

The corneal endothelium is a single layer of squamous cells covering the surface of the cornea that faces theanterior chamber.

Significant damage to the membrane may require a corneal transplant. Damage caused by the hereditary condition known asFuchs dystrophy (q.v.)—where Descemet's membrane progressively fails and the cornea thickens and clouds because the exchange of nutrients/fluids between the cornea and the rest of the eye is interrupted—can be reversed by surgery. The surgeon can scrape away the damaged Descemet membrane and insert/transplant a new membrane harvested from the eye of a donor.^[3] In the process most of the squamous cells of the donor membrane survive to dramatically and emphatically reverse the corneal deterioration (seeDMEK surgery).

Descemet's membrane is also a site of copper deposition in patients withWilson's disease or other liver diseases, leading to formation ofKayser–Fleischer rings.

It is also known as theposterior limiting elastic lamina,lamina elastica posterior, andmembrane of Demours. It was named after French physicianJean Descemet (1732–1810).

• Haab's striae
• Kayser–Fleischer ring
• Pierre Demours

Histology A text and atlas. Michael H.Ross and Wojciech Pawlina 5th Edition 2006

• Histology image: 08002loa – Histology Learning System at Boston University
• Diagram at dryeyezone.com

• Human eye anatomy

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata