RPE

Question 1

RPE is the outermost layer of the __________________, between the _____________ and ________________

Answer 1

Outermost layer of the retina barrier between the choroid and the retina

Question 2

Does the eye have to be dilated to see RPE?

Answer 2

To assess it, yes

Question 3

The RPE is the what layer of the retina?

Answer 3

-outermost layer of the retina. Anywhere you see retina, you will see RPE

Question 4

Is there RPE at the optic nerve?

Answer 4

• nope. No retina, no RPE.

- only thing at optic nerve is nerve fibers

Question 5

What must light pass through to reach the RPE?

Answer 5

All the layers of the retina

Question 6

What does vitreed mean? Sclerad?

Answer 6

Vitreed: towards the vitreous
Sclerad: towards the sclera

Question 7

What layers are considered part of the photoreceptor?

Answer 7

• layers of rods and cones
• outer nuclear layer
• outer plexiglas layer

Question 8

What is the first neuron? Second?

Answer 8

• first is photoreceptors

- second is inner nuclear layer

Question 9

What does the pigment do?

Answer 9

Absorbs spare light

-cuts down on glare

Question 10

The RPE transitions into what? The retina transitions into what?

Answer 10

RPE>pigmented ciliary epithelium

Retina>non-pigmented ciliary epithelium

Question 11

How many layers is the RPE?

Answer 11

Monolayer

Question 12

What is the shape of RPE cells?

Answer 12

-hexagonal at face, but cuboidal at cross section

Question 13

How many cells are in the RPE? Do they proliferate?

Answer 13

4-6 million, NO

Question 14

Where is the RPE cell density greatest?

Answer 14

In the region of the fovea

Question 15

Each RPE cell face how many photoreceptor outer segments? What do they do?

Answer 15

30-40, they engulf shed discs from photoreceptors on a daily basis

Question 16

The apex of the RPE faces the apex of what?

Answer 16

Apex of RPE faces apex of photoreceptor outer segment

Question 17

Name the layers of Bruch’s membrane from RPE out

Answer 17

• BMRPE
• inner collagenous
• elastic
• outer collagenous
• BMchoriocapillaris

Question 18

List the 6 general functions of the RPE

Answer 18

• secretion
• phagocytosis-engulf shed discs
• visual cycle
• glia-transport potassium for mullers cells
• epithelial transport-get nutrients from choriocapillaris to retina
• light absorption-melanin absorbs stray light

Question 19

What doesapical microvilli of the RPE engulf in the morning? And night? Why?

Answer 19

• engulf rods in morning because we use them at night and when they are done being used, they shed them
• engulf cones at night because we use them all day in day light and they shed at night when they are not in use

Question 20

Where is melanin in RPE? Mitochondria?

Answer 20

Melanin in inner zone, mitochondria in outer zone

Question 21

What is drusen? Where is it deposited?

Answer 21

• hydrophobic waste from engulfing shed discs is deposited into the inner collagenous zone.
• build up under the RPE

Question 22

What are the two kinds of visual distortion is caused by AMD? What test do you use to determine this?

Answer 22

• metamorphopsia (blur)
• central scotoma
• ambler grid

Question 23

What does the RPE secrete?

Answer 23

• vascular endothelial growth factor (for choroid)

- pigment epithelial growth factor