The fundus of the eye is the interior surface of the eye opposite the lens and includes the

retina The retina (from la, rete "net") is the innermost, light-sensitive layer of tissue of the eye of most vertebrates and some molluscs. The optics of the eye create a focused two-dimensional image of the visual world on the retina, which the ...

optic disc The optic disc or optic nerve head is the point of exit for ganglion cell axons leaving the eye. Because there are no rods or cones overlying the optic disc, it corresponds to a small blind spot in each eye. The ganglion cell axons form ...

macula The macula (/ˈmakjʊlə/) or macula lutea is an oval-shaped pigmented area in the center of the retina of the human eye and in other animals. The macula in humans has a diameter of around and is subdivided into the umbo, foveola, foveal av ...

fovea Fovea () (Latin for "pit"; plural foveae ) is a term in anatomy. It refers to a pit or depression in a structure. Human anatomy *Fovea centralis of the retina * Fovea buccalis or Dimple * Fovea of the femoral head * Trochlear fovea of the fr ...

, and posterior pole.Cassin, B. and Solomon, S. ''Dictionary of Eye Terminology''. Gainesville, Florida: Triad Publishing Company, 1990. The fundus can be examined by ophthalmoscopy and/or fundus photography.

Variation

The color of the fundus varies both between and within species. In one studyFree full text in PubMed Central
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primate Primates are a diverse order of mammals. They are divided into the strepsirrhines, which include the lemurs, galagos, and lorisids, and the haplorhines, which include the tarsiers and the simians ( monkeys and apes, the latter includin ...

s the retina is blue, green, yellow, orange, and red; only the human fundus (from a lightly pigmented blond person) is red. The major differences noted among the "higher" primate species were size and regularity of the border of macular area, size and shape of the optic disc, apparent 'texturing' of retina, and pigmentation of retina.

Clinical significance

Medical signs that can be detected from observation of eye fundus (generally by

funduscopy Ophthalmoscopy, also called funduscopy, is a test that allows a health professional to see inside the fundus of the eye and other structures using an ophthalmoscope (or funduscope). It is done as part of an eye examination and may be done as part ...

) include

hemorrhage Bleeding, hemorrhage, haemorrhage or blood loss, is blood escaping from the circulatory system from damaged blood vessels. Bleeding can occur internally, or externally either through a natural opening such as the mouth, nose, ear, urethra, v ...

s, exudates,

cotton wool spots Cotton wool spots are opaque fluffy white patches on the retina of the eye that are considered an abnormal finding during a funduscopic exam (also called an ophthalmoscopic exam). Cotton wool spots are typically a sign of another disease state, mo ...

blood vessel The blood vessels are the components of the circulatory system that transport blood throughout the human body. These vessels transport blood cells, nutrients, and oxygen to the tissues of the body. They also take waste and carbon dioxide awa ...

abnormalities ( tortuosity, pulsation and new vessels) and pigmentation.Imran Akram, Adrian Rubinstein "Common retinal signs. An overview", "Optometry Today", 28/01/05

Arteriolar constriction, seen as "silver wiring", and vascular tortuosities are seen in

hypertensive retinopathy Hypertensive retinopathy is damage to the retina and retinal circulation due to high blood pressure (i.e. hypertension). Signs and symptoms Most patients with hypertensive retinopathy have no symptoms. However, some may report decreased or blur ...

. The eye's fundus is the only part of the human body where the microcirculation can be observed directly.Ronald Pitts Crick, Peng Tee Khaw, ''A Textbook of Clinical Ophthalmology: A Practical Guide to Disorders of the Eyes and Their Management'', 3rd edition, World Scientific, 2003, The diameter of the

s around the optic disc is about 150 μm, and an ophthalmoscope allows observation of blood vessels with diameters as small as 10 μm.

References

{{Eye Human eye anatomy

Variation

Clinical significance

See also

References