- Macula
Infobox Anatomy
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Latin = macula lutea
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Caption = Humaneye cross-sectional view.
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The macula or macula lutea (fromLatin "macula", "spot" + "lutea", "yellow") is an ovalyellow spot near the center of theretina of the humaneye . It has a diameter of around 5 mm and is often histologically defined as having two or more layers ofganglion cell s. Near its center is thefovea , a small pit that contains the largest concentration ofcone cell s in the eye and is responsible for central vision.It is specialized for high acuity vision. Within the macula are the
fovea andfoveola which contain a high density of cones (photoreceptors with high acuity). In contrast to the rest of the retina, which is supplied by theretinal artery , the macula receives its blood supply from thechoroid .Clinical significance
Whereas loss of
peripheral vision may go unnoticed for some time, damage to the macula will result in loss of central vision, which is usually immediately obvious. The progressive destruction of the macula is adisease known asmacular degeneration and leads to the creation of a macular hole. Macular holes are rarely caused by trauma, but if a severe blow is delivered perfectly it can burst the blood vessels going to the macula, destroying it.Visual input to the macula occupies a substantial portion of the brain's visual capacity. As a result, some forms of visual field loss can occur without involving the macula; this is termed macular sparing. (For example,
visual field testing might demonstrate "homonymous hemianopsia with macular sparing".)ee also
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Cystoid macular edema
*Intermediate uveitis
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