Arteriolar Calibre and Area of Supply in the Cat Retina

Abstract

The calibre of the arterioles in the cat’s retina was determined by fluorescein angiography, and the area of their distribution was determined by post mortem Indian ink injection and planimetry in different zones set out at increasing distances from the disc. It was observed that vessels with similar width have a different area of supply, increasing from the disc towards the periphery in the ratio 1:3.2:5.4. This is explained by the anatomical variations observed by different workers in the distribution of the capillary network, ganglion cells and the nuclear layers, their density and number decreasing from the centre towards the periphery