The suspensory ligaments are what?

• A. regulate the size of the pupil
• B. are what focuses the lens
• C. absorb excess light rays
• D. fill the front chamber with fluid

Answer: (B)

The suspensory ligaments help focus the lens by changing its shape. They are fibrous strands that connect the lens to the ciliary body. When the ciliary muscle contracts for near objects, tension on the ligaments decreases, letting the lens become thicker and more curved to increase refractive power. For distant objects, the muscle relaxes, the ligaments pull tighter, and the lens flattens to decrease refractive power. So, they’re the mechanism that adjusts the lens to focus light on the retina. They don’t control pupil size, absorb light, or fill the front chamber with fluid.