Figure 2:

Proposed Paths of Blood Flow to the Eye in Rats

Abbreviations refer to blood vessels as indicated in Figure 1. Single letters refer to blood vessel paths to the eye. Note that the final common path is the ophthalmic artery, and blood flow gains access to the eye (and retina) only by way of it. The only possible exception is the alleged ophthalmic artery (path shown in gray) whose existence has been asserted but was not substantiated in the current study. Also, note that blood flow to the eye must be derived orthograde from either the ipsilateral or contralateral common carotid artery or retrograde from the Circle of Willis by either the ipsilateral or contralateral distal internal carotid artery.