Eye, retina and optic nerve

The uppermost layer of the retina consists of nerve fibers that travel across the surface of the retina before leaving the eyeball through the optic nerve.  There are no photoreceptor cells where the optic nerve penetrates the retina, hence the presence of a "blind spot".

In this image, light comes from the top.  The neural retina includes all the tissue layers between the upper surface (where the "retina" arrow points) down to the pigmented epithelium.

Beneath the thin pigmented epithelium lies the choroid, a heavily pigmented layer of loose connective tissue.  Beneath the choroid lies the sclera, the tough, collagenous "white" of the eyeball.

For higher magnification of these layers, click on the thumbnail at right:

 

Comments and questions: dgking@siu.edu

SIUC / School of Medicine / Anatomy / David King

http://www.siumed.edu/~dking2/ssb/EE019b.htm
Last updated:  30 November 2004 / dgk