Pilocarpine increases aqueous outflow through which pathway?

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Pilocarpine is a cholinergic agonist that primarily acts on the muscarinic receptors in the eye, leading to increased aqueous humor outflow, which is beneficial in treating conditions like glaucoma. The correct pathway through which pilocarpine increases aqueous outflow is the corneoscleral pathway.

When pilocarpine is administered, it induces miosis (pupil constriction) by stimulating the sphincter pupillae muscle. This contraction allows the iris to move away from the trabecular meshwork, facilitating a wider opening for aqueous humor to drain through the corneoscleral angle. This pathway involves the conventional outflow system, primarily through the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canal, effectively lowering intraocular pressure.

Understanding the anatomical structures involved in the drainage of aqueous humor is key to recognizing how pilocarpine works. The corneoscleral pathway is the most significant route for aqueous humor outflow increased by pilocarpine’s action, making it the correct answer in this context. Other pathways, such as uveoscleral, represent alternative drainage routes but are not specifically increased by the action of pilocarpine.

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