The short ciliary nerves are a group of nerves that originate from the ciliary ganglion and innervate the eye. The term "short" refers to the fact that these nerves are relatively small in size compared to other nerves in the body. Synonyms for the term "short ciliary nerves" include "palpebral nerves," "ciliary nerves," "anterior ciliary nerves," and "intracranial ciliary nerves." These synonyms are often used interchangeably to refer to the same group of nerves. The short ciliary nerves play a crucial role in regulating the size of the pupil and the shape of the lens, which are important factors in visual acuity.