fovea cen·tra·lis (s n-tr  l s)n. A depression in the center of the macula of the retina, the area of the most acute vision, where only cones are present and where blood vessels are lacking. Also called central fovea, central pit. |
fovea centralis,
an area at the center of the retina where cone cells are concentrated and there are no rod cells. See also macula lutea.
fovea
centralis
A small area of the retina of approximately 1.5 mm in diameter situated within the macula lutea. At the fovea centralis, the retina is the thinnest as there are no supporting fibres of Mueller, no ganglion cells and no bipolar cells. These cells are shifted to the edge of the depression. The fovea centralis contains mainly cone cells, each one being connected to only one ganglion cell and thus contributing to the highest visual acuity of the retina. The visual field represented by the fovea centralis is equal to about 5º (Fig. F9). Syn. foveal pit; macula (term often used by clinicians). See central visual acuity; retinal image; macula lutea.
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Fig. F9 Cross-section of the retina showing the fovea centralis and foveola (rod-free area)
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