The cornea is a multilayered structure (#21922) which is covered on the external surface by a stratified squamous, non-keratinized epithelium.  The epithelium is firmly attached to the corneal surface by its basement membrane (#21924).  The majority of the cornea is made up of stroma (21914).  The anteriormost stroma consists of a condensation of tissue called Bowman's layer.  This layer does not regenerate following trauma or injury.  The stroma itself is composed of regular lamellae of collagen with the predominant cell type being the keratocyte (a modified quiescent fibroblast).  The posterior surface of the cornea is lined by an endothelium which consists of a monolayer of very metabolically active cells (#21925, #21916).  The basement membrane of the corneal endothelium is called Descemet's membrane.