THE INTEKNAL COAT THE NERVOUS TUNIC 



647 



a single layer of columnar epithelial cells whose bases, of generally hex- 

 agonal outline, rest upon and are firmly adherent to the inner surface 

 of the choroid coat, and from whose free borders irregular processes 

 extend inward between the ele- 

 ments of the rod and cone layer. 

 These epithelial cells have a finely b 

 granular cytoplasm. Their nucle- 

 us is oval, somewhat flattened, and 

 placed near the base of the cell; 

 it is, however, obscured or even 

 entirely hidden by the mass of 

 dark pigment granules (fuscin) 

 by which the cytoplasm of the cell 

 is more or less completely filled. 



The disposition of the pigment 

 within the epithelial cell appar- 

 ently corresponds to, and is de- 

 pendent upon, the effect of light 

 upon the retina. In an eye ex- 



FIG. 546. THE RETINA OF A CHILD'S 

 EYE; MERIDIONAL SECTION. 



a, nerve fiber layer, the broad bases of 

 Muller's fiber cells show distinctly; b, 

 posed to the action of light at the blood-vessel; c, large ganglion cell layer; 

 instant of death, the pigment d > inner reticular layer; e, inner nuclear 



., layer; /, outer reticular layer, with a 



granules accumulate in the irreg- promine nt fiber layer of Henle; g, outer 

 ular processes of the cells which nuclear layer; h, layer of rods and cones; 



surround the rods and cones, the *> la y. er of Panted epitheUum; k, 



choroid coat. Hematem and eosm. 

 outer or basal portion of the cell photo. X 225. 



being relatively free from pig- 

 ment. In an eye which is shaded from the light, or in one removed in 

 comparative darkness, the pigment has apparently retracted until it lies 

 entirely with the body of the cell. Even under 

 these conditions the extreme base of the cell fre- 

 quently presents a narrow zone which is rela- 

 tively free from pigment. Similar changes in 

 the disposition of the pigment undoubtedly occur 

 in the living eye under the influence of exposure 

 to varying degrees of light. 



The function of this pigment and of the pe- 

 culiar changes in its disposition is still somewhat 

 speculative, but it may, without doubt, be safely 



asserted that these phenomena are concerned with the renewal of 

 the visual purple of the outer segments of the rods after the same has 



FlG. 547. PlGMENTED 



EPITHELIUM OF THE 

 RETINA, VIEWED IN 

 TRANSECTION. 



X 500. (After Fuchs.) 



