IGCSE ACCOMMODATION

1. Fig. 5.4 shows changes in the curvature of the lens of a person’s eye. At different times the
person was looking at a bird high up in the sky, talking to a friend, and reading a book, not
necessarily in this order.

a) Identify the period of time, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5:

i) When the person was looking at the bird high up in the sky;

3
_____________________

ii) When the person’s ciliary muscles were changing from being relaxed to being contracted.

4
_____________________ (2)

b) Define accommodation

The process which allows the eye to see from different distances
______________________________________________________________________________ (1)

c) Which structures / muscles of the eye are involved in accommodation?

Lens, ciliary muscle, suspensory ligaments

(3)
2. The eye is a sense organ that responds to light. Fig. 4.1 is a diagram of a section through the
human eye.

a) Table 4.1 describes some of the functions of the parts of the eye. Complete the table by:

• naming the parts of the eye • using the letters on Fig. 4.1 to identify the parts of the eye.

FUNCTION NAME OF PART LETTER ON FIG 4.1

Carries impulses to the brain
Optic Nerve Y
Focuses light on to back of eye
Lens S
Location of most of the cones
Fovea X
Controls how much light enters eye
Iris T
Does most of the refracting of light
Cornea U
(5)

b) A pair of muscles in the eye work in opposition to each other to adjust the amount of light
entering the pupil. State the term that describes the action of a pair of muscles working in
opposition to each other.
Antagonistic
______________________________________________________________________________ (1)

c) A different pair of muscles in the eye work in opposition to each other to view objects at
different distances from the eye. State the name of the process that allows the eye to view objects
at different distances.
Accommodation
______________________________________________________________________________ (1)
d) How would you describe the eye? Circle one of the words below that you think best fits.

TISSUE CELL ORGAN SYSTEM ORGAN

(1)

e) The diagram below shows what happens to the pupil size in different light intensities

A B

i) There are two muscles that control the size of the pupil, A and B, as shown on the diagram. What
are their names?
Circular muscle
A _______________________________________ Radial muscle
B ____________________________________ (2)

ii) What happens to each of the muscles to make the pupil size smaller?

Contracts
A _______________________________________ Relaxes
B ____________________________________ (2)

iii) What is the name of this response?

Pupil reflex
______________________________________________________________________________ (1)

iv) What is the benefit to humans of this response?

It prevents too much light from entering the eye and damaging eye sensitive cells
______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________ (1)