First, because as the crystalline lens advances, it approaches a more narrow circumference of the globe ofthe eye, which relaxes the ciliary ligaments; second, because as the crystalline lens presses the aqueous humor, the latter presses in all directions to make room for itself, and its action falls upon what resists it least,.e., upon the relaxed ciliary ligaments; thus, it curves them all around the crystalline lens and occupies the spaces left to it by their curvature.