Fovea centralis

Fovea centralis

  • Related terms: Central fovea

Definition

Muhammad A. Javaid

The fovea centralis, commonly referred to simply as the fovea, is a small depression that lies at the centre of the macula. The fovea is about 1.5 mm in diameter and represents the area of greatest visual acuity because the inner retinal layers are displaced laterally, allowing light to reach the photoreceptors with minimal scattering. The fovea centralis is also avascular, forming the foveal avascular zone, which further improves optical clarity.

For a detailed description of the differences between macula, fovea centralis, and foveola, please refer to the description of macula here: Differences between macula, fovea centralis, and foveola.

References

  • Standring, S. (Ed.). (2015). Eye (Chapter 42). In Gray's anatomy: The anatomical basis of clinical practice (41st ed., pp. ). Churchill Livingstone.

  • Nguyen KH, Patel BC, Tadi P. Anatomy, Head and Neck: Retina. [Updated 2023 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542332/

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