Macula 252035 206981841 2008-04-20T22:52:31Z 86.49.39.200 {{dablink|This article is about the macula of the human eye. For other uses of the term macula, see: [[Macula (disambiguation)]]}} {{Infobox Anatomy | Name = {{PAGENAME}} | Latin = macula lutea | GraySubject = 225 | GrayPage = 1015 | Image = Human_eye_cross-sectional_view_grayscale.png | Caption = Human [[eye]] cross-sectional view. | Image2 = | Caption2 = | Map = | MapPos = | MapCaption = | Precursor = | System = | Artery = | Vein = | Nerve = | Lymph = | MeshName = Macula+Lutea | MeshNumber = | DorlandsPre = m_01 | DorlandsSuf = 12509252 | }} The '''macula''' or '''macula lutea''' (from [[Latin]] ''macula'', "spot" + ''lutea'', "yellow") is an oval [[yellow]] spot near the center of the [[retina]] of the human [[eye]]. It has a diameter of around 5 mm and is often histologically defined as having two or more layers of [[ganglion cell]]s. Near its center is the [[fovea]], a small pit that contains the largest concentration of [[cone cell]]s in the eye and is responsible for central vision. It is specialized for high [[Visual acuity|acuity]] vision. Within the macula are the [[fovea]] and [[foveola]] which contain a high density of [[Cone_cell|cones]] (photoreceptors with high acuity). In contrast to the rest of the retina, which is supplied by the [[retinal artery]], the macula receives its blood supply from the [[choroid]]. ==Clinical significance== Whereas loss of [[peripheral vision]] may go unnoticed for some time, damage to the macula will result in loss of central vision, which is usually immediately obvious. The progressive destruction of the macula is a [[disease]] known as [[macular degeneration]] and leads to the creation of a macular hole. Macular holes are rarely caused by trauma, but if a severe blow is delivered perfectly it can burst the blood vessels going to the macula, destroying it. Visual input to the macula occupies a substantial portion of the brain's visual capacity. As a result, some forms of [[Visual field#Visual field loss|visual field loss]] can occur without involving the macula; this is termed '''macular sparing'''. (For example, [[visual field testing]] might demonstrate ''[[homonymous hemianopsia]] with macular sparing''.) This finding can be very informative for the [[ophthalmologist]]. ==See also== *[[Cystoid macular edema]] *[[Intermediate uveitis]] ==Additional images== <gallery> Image:Gray1206.png|The interior of the posterior half of the left eyeball. </gallery> {{Eye}} {{Visual_system}} {{eye-stub}} [[Category:Eye]] [[bn:ম্যাকুলা]] [[de:Gelber Fleck (Auge)]] [[et:Kollatähn]] [[el:Ωχρή κηλίδα]] [[es:Mácula]] [[fr:Macula]] [[it:Macula (oculistica)]] [[lt:Geltonoji dėmė]] [[nl:Gele vlek]] [[no:Macula lutea]] [[pl:Plamka żółta]] [[pt:Mácula]] [[ru:Жёлтое пятно]] [[simple:Yellow spot]] [[sv:Gula fläcken]] [[tr:Sarı benek]]