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. 2023 Jul 11;17:1216489. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1216489

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Complex architecture of the human retina. A schematic diagram of a cross-section through the retina. The layers of the neuroretina from inner to outer include: the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), inner neuronal layer (INL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), and outer neuronal layer (ONL). Below the neuroretina is the retinal pigment epithelial layer (RPE) which is a monolayer of cells that sit on the extracellular matrix basement membrane, Bruch’s membrane (BM). The outer retinal is supplied by the choroidal blood circulatory system, comprised of the choriocapillaris (CC), the small vessel layer (SL) and the large vessel layer (not shown). Blood vessels (BV) are depicted within the figure. The retinal neurons in the inner retina include bipolar cells (BC, dark green), ganglion cells (GC, pink), amacrine cells (AC, light green), horizontal cells (HC, red), and rod and cone photoreceptors (orange). Microglia (blue), astrocytes (purple) and the Muller cells, a specialized astrocyte (MC, black) are supportive glial cell types that provide homeostasis and metabolic support for the retina.