Preferred Label : fovea centralis;
Uberon definition : A depression in the inner retinal surface within the macula lutea, the photoreceptor
layer of which is entirely cones and which is specialized for maximum visual acuity;
Uberon synonym : fovea centralis in macula; centre of macula;
Uberon related term : centre of fovea;
Uberon broad term : fovea;
Uberon Function note : high acuity vision;
Uberon Homology note : Definition of fovea centralis should be considered here as 'an area centralis at the
visual axis' (reference 1). There is an uncertaincy of the relation, because: 1.-The
fovea first appeared in evolution in the temporal retina of fishes. Then, in birds,
the nasal fovea and bifoveal system with nasal and temporal foveas developed. The
fovea disappeared in primitive mammals, and reappeared in primates. A residue of the
fovea is conserved in the visual streak, and the disappearance and reappearance of
the fovea, in primitive mammals and primates respectively, correlates with degeneration
and restoration of cone pigment genes in photoreceptors (reference 2). 2.-Many retinal
features (foveas, trichromacy, midget pathways and associated cell types) appear specific
to primates. This has led to investigations in parallel with other mammalian models
such as cat or rabbit. Correlation of the results often proves to be difficult, since
an evolutionary scenario with transitions between the mammalian models is largely
lacking (reference 3).[uncertain][VHOG];
Uberon Taxon note : The fovea is also a pit in the surface of the retinas of many types of fish, reptiles,
and birds. Among mammals, it is found only in simian primates. The retinal fovea takes
slightly different forms in different types of animals. For example, in primates,
cone photoreceptors line the base of the foveal pit, the cells that elsewhere in the
retina form more superficial layers having been displaced away from the foveal region
during late fetal and early postnatal life. Other foveae may show only a reduced thickness
in the inner cell layers, rather than an almost complete absence;
Origin ID : 0001786;
Automatic exact mappings (from CISMeF team)
- Fovea [ICD-11 Extension code]
- Uberon cross reference
- has part
- part of
- surrounded by
A depression in the inner retinal surface within the macula lutea, the photoreceptor
layer of which is entirely cones and which is specialized for maximum visual acuity
