RETINAL VESSELS Meaning and
Definition
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Retinal vessels refer to the blood vessels present in the retina, a sensory tissue lining the back of the eye that is crucial for vision. These vessels play a vital role in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the retina while removing waste products, ensuring its healthy functionality. The retinal vasculature consists of two main types of vessels: retinal arteries and retinal veins.
Retinal arteries transport oxygenated blood from the heart into the retina, branching out into smaller arterioles throughout the tissue. These arterioles eventually give rise to even smaller capillaries, which form a dense network across the retina, supplying the surrounding cells, including photoreceptors and nerve cells, with the necessary nourishment. On the other hand, retinal veins collect deoxygenated blood and waste products from the retina, gradually merging into larger venules that converge to form the central retinal vein, which then drains into the systemic circulation.
The retinal vascular network is a key indicator of overall health and can provide valuable insight into various systemic diseases and ocular disorders. Changes in the appearance, caliber, or tortuosity of the retinal vessels can be associated with conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and retinal vascular occlusions. Thus, assessing the retinal vessels through techniques like retinal imaging, including fundus photography or optical coherence tomography angiography, can help diagnose and monitor ocular and systemic diseases, allowing for timely intervention and treatment to preserve vision and overall well-being.
Common Misspellings for RETINAL VESSELS
- eetinal vessels
- detinal vessels
- fetinal vessels
- tetinal vessels
- 5etinal vessels
- 4etinal vessels
- rwtinal vessels
- rstinal vessels
- rdtinal vessels
- rrtinal vessels
- r4tinal vessels
- r3tinal vessels
- rerinal vessels
- refinal vessels
- reginal vessels
- reyinal vessels
- re6inal vessels
- re5inal vessels
- retunal vessels
- retjnal vessels
Etymology of RETINAL VESSELS
The word "retinal" refers to the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the back of the eyeball. It comes from the Late Latin word "retina" meaning "net" or "mesh", which refers to the pattern of nerve fibers in the retina.
The word "vessels" refers to the blood vessels that supply the retina. It comes from the Old French word "vessel" meaning "container" or "vase", ultimately derived from the Latin word "vasculum" meaning "little vessel".
When combined, "retinal vessels" therefore refers to the blood vessels within the retina.
