Accommodation

Accommodation
In medicine, the ability of the eye to change its focus from distant to near objects (and vice versa). This process is achieved by the lens changing its shape. Accommodation is the adjustment of the optics of the eye to keep an object in focus on the retina as its distance from the eye varies. It is the process of adjusting the focal length of a lens.
* * *
1. The act or state of adjustment or adaptation. 2. In sensorimotor theory, the alteration of schemata or cognitive expectations to conform with experience. [L. ac-commodo, pp. -atus, to adapt, fr. modus, a measure]
- amplitude of a. the difference in refractivity of the eye at rest and when fully accommodated.
- a. of eye the increase in thickness and convexity of the eye's lens in response to ciliary muscle contraction in order to focus the image of an external object on the retina.
- histologic a. change in shape of cells to meet altered physical conditions, as the flattening of cuboidal cells in cysts as a result of pressure. SYN: pseudometaplasia.
- negative a. the decrease of a. that occurs when shifting from near vision to distance vision.
- a. of nerve the property of a nerve by which it adjusts to a slowly increasing strength of stimulus, so that its threshold of excitation is greater than it would be were the stimulus strength to have risen more rapidly.
- positive a. increased refractivity of the eye that occurs when shifting from the distance to a near object.
- range of a. the distance between an object viewed with minimal refractivity of the eye and one viewed with maximal a..
- relative a. quantity of a. required for single binocular vision for any specified distance, or for any particular degree of convergence.

* * *

ac·com·mo·da·tion ə-.käm-ə-'dā-shən n an adaptation or adjustment esp. of a bodily part (as an organ): as
a) the automatic adjustment of the eye for seeing at different distances effected chiefly by changes in the convexity of the crystalline lens
b) the range over which such adjustment is possible

* * *

n.
adjustment of the shape of the lens to change the focus of the eye. When the ciliary muscle (see ciliary body) is relaxed, suspensory ligaments attached to the ciliary body and holding the lens in position are stretched, which causes the lens to be flattened. The eye is then able to focus on distant objects. To focus the eye on near objects the ciliary muscles contract and the tension in the ligaments is thus lowered, allowing the lens to become rounder.

* * *

ac·com·mo·da·tion (ə-kom″ə-daґshən) [L. accommodare to adjust to] 1. adjustment, especially that of the position and shape of the lens of the eye for focusing at various distances (see illustration). Symbol A or a. 2. nerve a.

Structures involved in accommodation of the lens; tension on the suspensory ligaments works to keep the lens relatively flat whereas the meridional and circular fibers of the ciliary muscle counteract the pull of the ligaments and when contracted allow the lens to assume a more spherical shape.


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • accommodation — [ akɔmɔdasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • XIVe « prêt gratuit » (cf. accommodement); de accommoder 1 ♦ (1566) Action d accommoder ou de s accommoder (aux circonstances, aux individus). ⇒ adaptation. 2 ♦ Physiol. Aptitude de l œil à accommoder (III). L amplitude d… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • accommodation — I (adjustment) noun accordance, adaptation, agreement, arrangement, compositio, composition of differences, compromise, friendly agreement, harmonization, mutual understanding, obliging, provision, readjustment, reconciliatio, rectification,… …   Law dictionary

  • Accommodation — may refer to:*Accommodation (in British usage) or accommodations (in American usage) is lodging in a dwelling or similar living quarters afforded to travellers in hotels or on cruise ships, or prisoners, etc. * Accommodation (religion), a… …   Wikipedia

  • Accommodation — Ac*com mo*da tion, n. [L. accommodatio, fr. accommodare: cf. F. accommodation.] [1913 Webster] 1. The act of fitting or adapting, or the state of being fitted or adapted; adaptation; adjustment; followed by to. The organization of the body with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • accommodation — UK /əˌkɒməˈdeɪʃən/ noun ► [U] UK (US accommodations [plural]) PROPERTY a place in which to live, work, stay, etc.: »The cost, including flights, accommodation, and meals, was €100,000. » temporary accommodation » luxury accommodations. ► [C or U] …   Financial and business terms

  • Accommodation — Accommodation, accommodiren, anbequemen, anpassen. Dies geschieht, wenn man die eignen Gewohnheiten, Lebensweise, Sprache, Vortrag, Lehre u.s.w. aus Rücksicht auf andere aufgibt oder ändert, um nicht zu entfremden oder zu verletzen. Die… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • Accommodation J&T — (Охрид,Македония) Категория отеля: 3 звездочный отель Адрес: Kuzman Kapidan Kaneo do Kiro …   Каталог отелей

  • accommodation — (n.) room and provisions, lodging, c.1600, now usually plural (accommodations) and chiefly U.S.; from Fr. accommodation, from L. accommodationem (nom. accommodatio), noun of action from pp. stem of accommodare (see ACCOMMODATE (Cf. accommodate)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • accommodation — [ə käm΄ə dā′shən] n. 1. an accommodating or being accommodated; adaptation (to a purpose); adjustment 2. reconciliation of differences 3. willingness to do favors or services 4. a help or convenience 5. [pl.] lodgings; room and board 6. [pl.]… …   English World dictionary

  • Accommodation — (v. lat.), 1) Bequemung des Betragens, der Rede etc. nach den Bedürfnissen u. der Denkungsart Anderer; bes. 2) (gr. Synkatabasis, lat. Condescensio, Theol.), von dem Lehrvortrage menschlicher Lehrer, die weise, schonende Berücksichtigung der… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • accommodation — [n] adjustment for different situation, circumstances adaptation, compliance, composition, compromise, conformity, fifty fifty deal*, fitting, modification, reconciliation, settlement; concept 697 …   New thesaurus

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”