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Sem 4 - Nervous System > Retina > Flashcards

Retina Flashcards

1
Q

What is the retina?

A

The inner layer of the eye

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2
Q

What are the layers of the retina?

A

Inner neurosensory layer

Outer pigmented epithelial layer

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3
Q

What does the outer pigmented layer contain?

A

Melanin

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4
Q

What is the function of melanin in the outer pigmented layer of the retina?

A

Absorb scattered light in the eye
Reducing reflection of light in the eye
Allows light to be focussed in one area of the retina

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5
Q

What causes albinism?

A

Partial or complete absence of melanin

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6
Q

What is the inner neurosensory layer made up of?

A

Photoreceptor cells

  • rods
  • cones
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7
Q

What is the distribution of rod and cone cells in the retina?

A

Rod cells are abundant towards the periphery

Cone cells are most concentrated in the macula

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8
Q

What are the functions of rod cells?

A

Responsible for vision in low intensity light

See in black and white

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9
Q

What are the functions of cone cells?

A

Colour vision

High acuity

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10
Q

What is the macula?

A

Refer to the area of the retina onto which light from the centre of vision falls onto
Centre of vision meaning what the gaze is directed towards

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11
Q

How can the macula be visualised?

A

Fundoscopy

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12
Q

What does the macula look like on fundoscopy?

A

Slightly dark area of the retina

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13
Q

What is the relative position of the macula on the retina?

A

Lateral to the optic disc

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14
Q

What is the fovea?

A

Refers to a depression at the centre of the macula

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15
Q

What is the fovea made up of?

A

Only cone cells at this point on the retina

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16
Q

What is retinal detachment?

A

Refers to the inner neurosensory layer detaching from the outer pigmented layer in certain areas

17
Q

What causes retinal detachment?

A

Can occur spontaneously

Head trauma

18
Q

What is a sign of retinal detachment?

A

Visual disturbances

19
Q

Why doe retinal detachment cause visual disturbances?

A

Photoreceptors in the neurosensory layer lose their blood supply, which comes from the choroid layer of the eye
Photoreceptors do not function

20
Q

What are the types of cone cells?

A

Red
Blue
Green

21
Q

How do cone cells see in colour?

A

Red, blue and green cone cells respond to different wavelengths of light

22
Q

What causes colour blindness?

A

Absence or dysfunction of any of the types of cone cells

23
Q

What is the function of horizontal cells?

A

Lateral inhibition

24
Q

What is lateral inhibition?

A

Refers to stopping photoreceptors next to the macula from generating impulses
As these impulses would result in distorted images of vision

25
Q

What is the visual pathway till the optic nerve?

A

Photoreceptor cells synapse with bipolar cells
Bipolar cells synapse with ganglion cells
Ganglion cells converge to the optic nerve

26
Q

What is the optic disc?

A

Refers to where the optic nerve leaves the retina

27
Q

What is the optic disc commonly known as? Why?

A

The blind spot

Because no photoreceptor cells at this point

28
Q

How can the optic disc be visualised?

A

Fundoscopy

29
Q

What does a swollen optic disc look like on fundoscopy?

A

Enlarged

Blurring outline

30
Q

What are the causes of optic disc swelling?

A

Raised intracranial pressure

31
Q

Why does raised intracranial pressure cause optic disc swelling?

A

Because the optic nerve is surrounded by meninges

So raised intracranial pressure extends around the optic nerve also

32
Q

What is the blood supply of the retina?

A

Central retinal artery

33
Q

What happens if the central retinal artery is blocked? Why?

A

Loss of vision
Due to loss of blood supply to photoreceptor cells, don’t function
Because the central retinal artery is an end artery, meaning it’s the only blood supply to the retina

Sem 4 - Nervous System (25 decks)

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