Skip to main content
Journal of Anatomy logoLink to Journal of Anatomy
. 1983 Jan;136(Pt 1):157–164.

Fine structure of the canine tapetum lucidum.

T P Lesiuk, C R Braekevelt
PMCID: PMC1171936  PMID: 6833116

Abstract

The structure of the canine tapetum lucidum appears to be basically similar to that described in some other carnivores, but specific distinctions are present. The reflecting rodlets of the dog are similar in their dimensions to those of the cat, but they are more closely packed, resulting in a unique value for the wavelength of maximal reflectance. In addition, the rodlets are less precisely orientated, as compared to those of the cat, a condition which appears to result in a less efficient reflectance from the dog tapetum. It has also been shown that the dog does not possess a retinal tapetum lucidum, as had previously been suggested.

Full text

PDF

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BERNSTEIN M. H., PEASE D. C. Electron microscopy of the tapetum lucidum of the cat. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1959 Jan 25;5(1):35–40. doi: 10.1083/jcb.5.1.35. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Braekevelt C. R. Fine structure of the retinal epithelium in the bushbaby (Galago senegalensis). Acta Anat (Basel) 1980;107(3):276–285. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Büssow H., Baumgarten H. G., Hansson C. The tapetal cell: a unique melanocyte in the tapetum lucidum cellulosum of the cat (felis domestica l.). Anat Embryol (Berl) 1980;158(3):289–302. doi: 10.1007/BF00301818. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Büssow H. Zur Histogenese und Cytogenese des Tapetum lucidum cellulosum der Katze. Eine licht- und elektronenoptische Untersuchung. Anat Embryol (Berl) 1974;146(2):141–156. doi: 10.1007/BF00315591. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Coles J. A. Some reflective properties of the tapetum lucidum of the cat's eye. J Physiol. 1971 Jan;212(2):393–409. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009331. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Dartnall H. J., Arden G. B., Ikeda H., Luck C. P., Rosenberg M. E., Pedler C. M., Tansley K. Anatomical, electrophysiological and pigmentary aspects of vision in the bush baby: an interpretative study. Vision Res. 1965 Aug;5(7):399–424. doi: 10.1016/0042-6989(65)90049-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. GUNTER R. The absolute threshold for vision in the cat. J Physiol. 1951 Jun;114(1-2):8–15. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1951.sp004599. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Land M. F. The physics and biology of animal reflectors. Prog Biophys Mol Biol. 1972;24:75–106. doi: 10.1016/0079-6107(72)90004-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Lucchi M. L., Callegari E., Bortolami R. The development of the rods in the tapetal cells of the cat. J Anat. 1978 Dec;127(Pt 3):505–513. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. NAKAIZUMI Y. THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF BRUCH'S MEMBRANE. I. HUMAN, MONKEY, RABBIT, GUINEA PIG, AND RAT EYES. Arch Ophthalmol. 1964 Sep;72:380–387. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1964.00970020380016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. NAKAIZUMI Y. THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF BRUCH'S MEMBRANE. II. EYES WITH A TAPETUM. Arch Ophthalmol. 1964 Sep;72:388–394. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1964.00970020388017. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. PEDLER C. The fine structure of the tapetum cellulosum. Exp Eye Res. 1963 Apr;2:189–195. doi: 10.1016/s0014-4835(63)80012-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Santos-Anderson R. M., Tso M. O., Wolf E. D. An inherited retinopathy in collies. A light and electron microscopic study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1980 Nov;19(11):1281–1294. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Vogel M. Postnatal development of the cat's retina. Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol. 1978;54(4):1–66. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. WEALE R. A. The spectral reflectivity of the cat's tapetum measured in situ. J Physiol. 1953 Jan;119(1):30–42. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1953.sp004826. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Wyman M., Donovan E. F. The ocular fundus of the normal dog. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1965 Jul 1;147(1):17–26. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Anatomy are provided here courtesy of Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

RESOURCES