Visual Tracts Flashcards
What forms the visual pathway?
axons of ganglion cells and the axons of higher order cells on which they synapse
what type of arrangement does the visual pathway maintain at easy relay location?
retinotopic
what are the three layers of the eye?
fibrous layer, vascular layer, retina
what does the fibrous layer of the eye consist of?
the sclera and the cornea
what does the vascular layer of the eye consist of?
choroid, ciliary body, and the iris
what is the role of the sclera?
it is an external layer of the eyeball that protects internal structures and provides sites for muscle insertion
what type of tissue makes up the sclera?
dense regular CT with flat bundles of type I collagen
what are the five distinct layers of the cornea?
corneal epithelium, anterior limiting membrane (bowman membrane), stroma, posterior limiting membrane (descemet’s membrane) and the inner endothelium
what type of tissue makes up the corneal epithelium?
nonkaratinized stratified squamous epithelium
what separates the corneal epithelium from the stroma?
the anterior limiting membrane (Bowman membrane)
what makes up the stroma?
keratocytes
what separates the stroma from the inner endothelium?
the posterior limiting membrane (Descemet’s membrane)
what is the transitional area where the transparent cornea merges with the opaque sclera?
limbus
what does the limbus denote?
the end of Bowman’s area and the beginning of the conjunctiva
what cell population is found at the surface of the limbus and what is their role?
epithelial stem cells- give rise to progenitor cells that move into the corneal epithelium
what is the middle layer of the eye?
the vascular layer
what does the choroid consist of?
loose, well-vascularized connective tissue and melanocytes
what is the role of the melanocytes found in the choroid of the eye?
it prevents light from entering the eye except via the pupil
what is the Bruch’s membrane?
it is a thin extracellular sheet that includes the basal lamina of the retina’s pigmented layer (more anterior membrane)
what is the innermost layer of the eye?
the retina
what are the two layers of the retina?
- outer pigmented layer and 2. inner neural layer
what does the retina develop from?
the optic cup
what is the tissue that makes up the outer pigmented layer of the retina?
simple cuboidal epithelium
what makes up the inner neural layer of the retina?
it is stratified with various neurons and photoreceptors
the neural component of the retina extends to where?
anteriorly to the ora serrata
what are some of the functions of the pigmented epithelium layer of the retina?
it absorbs scattered light, forms part of the blood-retina barrier, isomerizes all-trans-retinal–> 11-cis-retinal, phagocytosis, removes free radicals and secretes ATP
what is the most posterior layer of the retina/ the layer closest to the choroid?
the pigmented epithelium
what are the layers of the neural retina, starting from the most superficial?
inner limiting membrane, nerve fiber layer, ganglionic layer, inner plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer, outer plexiform layer, outer nuclear layer, outer limiting layer, rod and cone layer, pigmented layer
what makes up the inner limiting membrane (layer 1 of the neural retina)?
it is a basement membrane covered by processes of Muller cells
what is contained within the nerve fiber layer (layer 2) of the the neural retina?
ganglionic cell axons