Table 1.

Characteristics of the different zones at the human inner lid margin

		MCJ/Marx line
	Epidermis	Continuous para-keratinized	Squamous transition zone	Lid wiper	Subtarsal fold
Width		150–200 μm	100–150 μm	0.3–1.5 mm or more
Thickness	50 μm	80–150 μm	80–150 μm	80–150 μm	30–40 μm
No. of cell layers	6–8	8–15	8–15	8–15	3–4
Cornified layer & Strat. granulosum	+	−	−	−	−
Surface cells	Squamous	Squamous	Squamous	Cuboidal (squamous to columnar)	Cuboidal – Columnar
Para-keratinized (pk) surface cells	−	Continuous	Discontinuous	++ interspersed	+ interspersed
Goblet cells	−	−	(+)	+++	++
Basement membrane thickness	+	+++	+++	+	+
Connective tissue papillae	+ roundish	+ large, pointed	++ large, pointed	(−)	−