Lecture 4 and 5 retina intro and layers

Q: What are the 2 functions of the retina?

Converts light into neural signals

Sends signals to the brain for visual perception

Q: Where is the retina located?

Innermost layer of the eye, between the choroid and vitreous.

Q: What is the ora serrata?

A: The anterior limit of the photosensitive retina.

Q: Name the 3 most important retinal landmarks.

Optic disc

Macula

Fovea

Q: What are the key features of the optic disc?

Optic nerve exits here

Retinal vessels enter/leave here

No photoreceptors (blind spot)

Q: Why is the fovea important?

A: Site of highest visual acuity.

Q: What is the main retinal pathway?

Photoreceptor → Bipolar → Ganglion → Optic nerve

Memorise this perfectly.

Q: Which retinal cells provide lateral processing?

Horizontal cells

Amacrine cells

Q: Which retinal glial cells should you know?

Müller cells

Astrocytes

Microglia

Q: Function of Müller cells?

Structural support

Retinal homeostasis

Regulate ions/pH

Waste removal

Q: Function of astrocytes vs microglia?

Astrocytes

Support capillaries and nerve fibres

Microglia

Immune defence

Phagocytosis

Q: What are the 10 retinal layers?

RPE

Photoreceptors

External limiting membrane

Outer nuclear

Outer plexiform

Inner nuclear

Inner plexiform

Ganglion cell

Nerve fibre

Internal limiting membrane