Vitreous Body
/ˈvɪt.ri.əs ˈbɒd.i/noun
The transparent, gel-like substance that fills the space between the lens and retina of the eye.
Did you know?The first element, vitreous, comes from Latin vitreus, meaning “of glass,” so the eye’s inner jelly was literally named for its glassy clarity.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
vitrum
“glass”
Latin
Latin
vitreus
“of glass; glassy”
Late Latin / Medieval Latin
Latin
corpus vitreum
“glassy body”
16th Century
English
vitreous body
“the clear, glass-like substance in the eye”
Modern English
English
vitreous body
“the transparent gel filling the eyeball”
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