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Separate Biology · Paper 2 · Foundation + Higher · B5

Accommodation: focusing near and far

Key ideas1 of 3

A change in lens shape

Accommodation changes the shape of the lens to focus light from objects at different distances onto the retina. Ciliary muscles and suspensory ligaments act together, but they do not contract together. Muscles can contract; ligaments transmit tension. The lens is elastic. When the tension pulling on it decreases, it becomes thicker and more curved, so it refracts light more strongly.

Two lens arrangements, A and B, with surrounding muscles and ligaments.

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Daily 5 · Exam practice · Revision sheet ↓

Foundation + Higher · B5. Use alongside the shared B5 lessons.

AQA GCSE Biology 8461 · 4.5.2.3. Original notes, questions and diagrams. Models are simplified; teaching data are illustrative.