Choroid and Ocular Blood Supply Notes

Flashcards created to aid in the review of key concepts and terminology related to ocular blood supply and the choroid.

What is the termination of Descemet’s membrane that appears as an opaque line?

Schwalbe’s line (SL)

What are the three parts of the Trabecular Meshwork (TM)?

Uveal, corneo-scleral, and juxtacanalicular

What is the primary mechanism for aqueous humour production?

Active secretion by non-pigmented ciliary epithelium using a metabolic pump.

What contributes to the blood-aqueous barrier?

Tight junctions of non-pigmented epithelium of ciliary body and inner wall of Schlemm’s canal.

What percentage of aqueous humour is drained through the Trabecular pathway?

90%.

What are the three zones of the vitreous chamber?

Cortex, intermediate zone, and cloquet’s canal.

What is the primary function of the vitreous body?

Support the retina and maintain eye shape.

What causes the breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier?

Infections, trauma, or drug-induced effects (like cholinergic drugs such as pilocarpine).

What are the main branches of the ophthalmic artery?

Central retinal artery, lacrimal artery, short and long posterior ciliary arteries, ethmoidal, and supra-orbital artery.

What is the effect of cholinergic drugs on the blood-aqueous barrier?

They can cause a breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier.

What is the composition of blood?

Plasma, platelets, leukocytes (white blood cells), and erythrocytes (red blood cells).

What is the role of the central retinal artery?

It supplies blood to the retina and branches into four quadrants.

Name a disease associated with the choroid that causes night blindness.

Choroideremia.

What does Bruch’s membrane regulate?

It regulates the exchange of nutrients and waste products between the retina and the choroidal circulation.

What anatomical structure supports the optic nerve?

The short posterior ciliary arteries.

What are the symptoms of Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis (CST)?

Headache, periorbital edema, proptosis, photophobia.

What is the largest branch of the ophthalmic artery?

Lacrimal artery.

What arteries supply the ciliary body?

Long and short posterior ciliary arteries.

What potential route for infection exists due to connections between veins?

Anastomosis between the superior ophthalmic vein and the facial vein.

What happens to the central visual acuity in patients with cilioretinal artery occlusion?

It may be preserved due to the retained papillomacular blood flow.

What is the role of pigment cells in the choroid?

They absorb excess light that penetrates the retina.