RETINA UNIT-1 - PART 2

 10 layers of retina arranged in two distinct functional components

 The pigment epithelium and neurosensory retina
 Embryology: retinal layers is derived from neural ectoderm
 The retina is formed from the optic cup. As a consequence of how it arises it is double
layered; the outer layer becoming the retinal pigment epithelium and the inner layer,
nearest the lens vesicle, becoming the neural retina.

Pigment epithelium: derived from the outer layer of optic cup

 Retina pigment epithelium

Neurosensory retina: derived from the inner layer of optic cup

 Rest of the 9 layers

 Layer of rods and cones (photoreceptors); external limiting membrane; outer nuclear layer;
outer plexiform layer; inner nuclear layer; inner plexiform layer; ganglion cell layer; nerve
fiber layer; inner limiting membrane

Cells of retina
 3 types of cells and synapses

Neuron (PBGAH) Glial (MMA) Vascular (EP)

1. Phtoreceptors 1. Muller 1. Endothelial
2. Bipolar 2. Microglia 2. Pericytes
3. Ganglion 3. Astrocytes
4. Amacrine
5. Horizontal

Cells Diagram
PHOTORECEPTOR CELLS

 That are converting light energy in to neural signals

 Rods and cones are the photoreceptors
 Axons of the photoreceptor cells connects with the dendrites of the bipolar cells

BIPOLAR CELLS (first order neuron)

 13 types bi polar cells present

 Axons of the bi polar cells connect with the dend rites of ganglion cells
 Dendrites of the bipolar cells connect with the photoreceptors cell

GANGLION CELLS

 20 types of ganglion cells are present

 Axons of the ganglion cells joined together and form the optic nerve

Horizontall cells

 Connect photoreceptor cells with one another

Amacrine cells:

 Connect ganglion in to bi polar

Muller cells:

 Apex in the photoreceptors & base in Internal limiting membrane

Microglia:

 found anywhere in the retina

Astrocytes:

 Star shaped cells found in Nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer
RETINAL LAYERS AND STRUCTURES

1.Pigment epithelium.

 It is the outermost layer of retina. It consists of a single layer of cells containing pigment.
 It is firmly adherent to the underlying basal lamina (Bruch’s membrane) of the choroid.
 Pigment epithelium provides metabolic support to the neurosensory retina and also acts as
an antireflective layer.
 Interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM) is present in the potential space between pigment
epithelium and the neurosensory retina and constitutes a strong binding mechanism
between the two (by binding pigment epithelium to the photoreceptor).
 ■Constituent molecules of IPM include: Interphotoreceptor retinal binding protein (IRBP),
proteoglycan-glycosaminoglycans (sulphated and nonsulphated chondroitin and hyaluronic
acid), fibronectin, sialoprotein associated with rods and cones (SPARC), intercellular
adhesion molecules, hyaluronic acid receptor (CD44 antigen), and lysosomal enzymes
(matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, i.e., TIMP).

2. Layer of rods and cones.

 Rods and cones are the end organs of vision and are also known as photoreceptors.
 Layer of rods and cones contains only the outer segments of photoreceptor cells arranged in
a palisade manner.
 There are about 120 millions rods and 6.5 millions cones.
 photosensitive substance visual purple (rhodopsin) and subserve the peripheral vision and
vision of low illumination (scotopic vision). Cones also contain a photosensitive substance
and are primarily responsible for highly discriminatory central vision (photopic vision) and
colour vision.

3. External limiting membrane.

 It is a fenestrated membrane, through which pass processes of the rods and cones.

4. Outer nuclear layer.

 It consists of nuclei of rods and cones.

5. Outer plexiform layer.

 It consists of connections of rod spherules and cone pedicles with the dendrites of bipolar
cells and horizontal cells.

6. Inner nuclear layer.

 It mainly consists of cell bodies of bipolar cells. It also contains cell bodies of horizontal,
amacrine and Muller’s cells and capillaries of central artery of retina. The bipolar cells
constitute the first order neurons.

7. Inner plexiform layer.

  It essentially consists of connections between the axons of bipolar cells and dendrites of the
ganglion cells, and processes of amacrine cells.

8. Ganglion cell layer.

 It mainly contains the cell bodies of ganglion cells (the second order neurons of visual
pathway).
 There are two types of ganglion cells. The midget ganglion cells are present in the macular
region and the dendrite of each such cell synapses with the axon of single bipolar cell.

9. Nerve fibre layer (stratum opticum)

 consists of axons of the ganglion cells, which pass through the lamina cribrosa to form the
optic nerve

10. Internal limiting membrane.

 It is the innermost layer and separates the retina from vitreous. It is formed by the union of
terminal expansions of the Muller’s fibres, and is essentially a basement membrane.

STRUCTURE OF RETINA