Choroid (eye)
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Ihab Mikhail had no recorded disclosures.
View Ihab Mikhail's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had the following disclosures:
- Philips Australia, Paid speaker at Philips Spectral CT events (ongoing)
- Taylor and Francis Publishing, Paid author of Imaging for Students 5th edition (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosures- Choroids (eye)
The choroid is part of the uveal layer of the eye along with the ciliary body and iris 1.
On this page:
Summary
location: posterior aspect of the globe
function: vascularization of the outer retina
arterial supply: posterior ciliary arteries
innervation: short ciliary nerves, long ciliary nerves
relations: ciliary body anteriorly, optic nerve posteriorly
Gross Anatomy
The choroid is a pigmented, vascular layer, which represents the posterior part of the vascular tunic of the eye called the uvea. The function of the choroid is to provide oxygen and nutrients to the outer layers of the retina 2. It is delineated from the anterior part of the uvea called the ciliary body at the ora serrata 1. The choroid has an opening for the optic nerve at its entry point into the posterior aspect of the globe.
It is supplied by the posterior ciliary branches of the ophthalmic artery and drained by the vorticose veins into the ophthalmic veins 3. Sympathetic innervation to the choroid from the superior cervical ganglion is carried via the long ciliary nerves. It also receives parasympathetic innervation from the pterygopalatine ganglion via the short ciliary nerves, however, these also carry parasympathetic fibers from the ciliary ganglion 4.
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Histology
The choroid is described as having four microscopic layers 4.
From superficial to deep:
large vessel layer
intermediate-sized vessel layer
choriocapillaris comprised of capillaries
Bruch’s membrane, which is the basement membrane of the choroid
Related Pathology
References
- 1. Last's anatomy, regional and applied. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN: 9780729537520
- 2. Nickla DL, Wallman J. The multifunctional choroid. (2010) Progress in retinal and eye research. 29 (2): 144-68. doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2009.12.002 - Pubmed
- 3. WKiel, J. (2011). The ocular circulation. San Rafael, Calif.: Morgan & Claypool. Pubmed
- 4. Oprea, Şt.; Pantu, C. M.; Filipoiu, F. M.; Tulin, Raluca; Oprea, Gabriela Diana. The anatomy of the choroid – a review. (2016) Romanian journal of functional & clinical anatomy. 15(4): p380-383.
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