Dec 22, 2010
The progression from A-D depicts the development of the human eye. The neural portion of the eye, called the retina, is part of the central nervous system (CNS).
A. In early development, the retina forms as an outpocket from the neural tube and is called the optic vesicle.
B. This optic vesicle invaginates to make the optic cup.
C./D. The optic cup's inner wall becomes the retina, while the pigment epithelium originates from the outer wall.
The retina contains photoreceptors (cones and rods) whose electrical activity is converted into action potentials and sent to the brain via the optic nerve. The retina also has a complex multi-layered structure populated by different kinds of neurons.