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Cited by 233Corneal surgery and disordersCollagen: Extraction and CharacterizationAdvanced X-ray Imaging Techniques

X-Ray Scattering Used to Map the Preferred Collagen Orientation in the Human Cornea and Limbus

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Aghamohammadzadeh, Hossein, Newton, Richard H., Meek, Keith M.·2004·Structure
DOI 10.1016/j.str.2004.01.002
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Abstract

Many properties of connective tissues are governed by the organization of the constituent collagen. For example, the organization of collagen in the cornea and the limbus, where the cornea and sclera meet, is an important determinant of corneal curvature and hence of the eye's focusing power. We have used synchrotron X-ray scattering to map the orientation of the collagen fibrils throughout the human cornea, limbus, and adjacent sclera. We demonstrate a preferred orientation of collagen in the vertical and horizontal directions that is maintained to within about 1 mm from the limbus, where a circular or tangential disposition of fibrils occurs. The data are also used to map the relative distribution of both the total and the preferentially aligned collagen in different parts of the tissue, revealing considerable anisotropy. The detailed structural information provided is an important step toward understanding the shape and the mechanical properties of the tissue.

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  • Maurice and colleagues initially employed X-rays to investigate collagen fiber arrangement in corneal tissues, enabling quantification of orientation and content across the cornea and limbus, with changes detected via X-ray scattering patterns.

    “Maurice and colleagues initially employed X‐rays to investigate structural features pertaining to the arrangement of collagen fibers in corneal tissues, enabling the quantification of the orientation and content of collagen fibers across the cornea and limbus, with changes in fiber arrangement being readily detected via X‐ray scattering patterns.[ 94 , 105 , 111 ]”

    From Bioactive scaffolds for tissue engineering: A review of decellularized extracellular matrix applications and innovations (2025) · cites this paper as [111]

  • It seems likely that alterations in tissue thickness from central cornea to limbus in human corneas are due to an increase in the amount of collagen in the peripheral stroma.

    “although water distribution from central cornea to limbus is not known for human corneas, it seems likely that alterations in tissue thickness are due to an increase in the amount of collagen in the peripheral stroma (Aghamohammadzadeh et al., 2004, Boote et al., 2011, Henriksson et al., 2012).”

    From Corneal structure and transparency (2015) · cites this paper as Aghamohammadzadeh et al., 2004

  • Collagen lamellae in the deeper stroma have preferred directions that appear to be close to the inferior-superior and nasal-temporal directions.

    “Collagen lamellae in the deeper stroma (Fig. 1a) have preferred directions, which appear to be close to the inferior-superior and nasal-temporal directions (Meek et al., 1987, Aghamohammadzadeh et al., 2004, Abahussin et al., 2009, Kamma-Lorger et al., 2010).”

    From Corneal structure and transparency (2015) · cites this paper as Aghamohammadzadeh et al., 2004

  • X-ray scattering has suggested the presence of a network of collagen lamellae that enter the cornea close to the inferior, superior, nasal and temporal positions, and which probably originate in the adjacent sclera.

    “X-ray scattering has also suggested the presence of a network of collagen lamellae that enter the cornea close to the inferior, superior, nasal and temporal positions, and which probably originate in the adjacent sclera (Aghamohammadzadeh et al., 2004).”

    From Corneal structure and transparency (2015) · cites this paper as Aghamohammadzadeh et al., 2004

  • X-ray scattering has shown that collagen lamellae in the human cornea have preferred orientations: inferior-superior and nasal-temporal in the central cornea and circumferential at the limbus.

    “X-ray scattering has shown that the lamellae have preferred orientations in the human cornea: inferior-superior and nasal-temporal in the central cornea and circumferential at the limbus.”

    From Structural control of corneal transparency, refractive power and dynamics (2025) · cites this paper as [13]

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Authors
Aghamohammadzadeh, H., Newton, R. H., & Meek, K. M.
Affiliations
Cardiff University (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Structure
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2004-02
Volume
12
Issue
2
Pages
249-256
ISSN
0969-2126 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.str.2004.01.002
OpenAlex
W2081339779
Cited by
233
References
19
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 5
FWCI
5.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Structure (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ePubs (Science and Technology Facilities Council, Research Councils UK) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Corneal surgery and disorders
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Collagen: Extraction and Characterization
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Radiation › Advanced X-ray Imaging Techniques
Keywords
collagen fibril orientation, cornea, limbus, sclera, collagen anisotropy, corneal curvature, synchrotron X-ray scattering, tissue mechanical properties
MeSH terms
Animals, Corneal Stroma, Humans, Sclera, X-Ray Diffraction, Limbus Corneae, Fibrillar Collagens

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