Abstract
The functional anatomy of the normal choroidal circulation in man is described from scanning electron microscopic examination of methyl methacrylate microvascular casts. Distal and para-optic short posterior ciliary arteries supply wedge-shaped areas of choroid. Regional variations in choriocapillary morphology are well recognised; the lobules are densely packed at the posterior pole with a high capillary to inter-capillary ratio. Choroidal capillaries are flattened providing a large surface area for metabolic exchange with the retinal pigment epithelium. In acute choroidal ischaemia (from a variety of systemic disease), wedge shaped choroidal lesions may correspond to occlusion of short posterior ciliary arteries and geographic or focal lesions to occlusion of choroidal arterioles or choriocapillary lobules.
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Olver, J. Functional anatomy of the choroidal circulation: Methyl methacrylate casting of human choroid. Eye 4, 262–272 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1990.38
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1990.38
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