Name the two primary sources of retinal blood supply.

Name the two primary sources of retinal blood supply.

• A. Central retinal artery and choroidal circulation
• B. Internal carotid artery and external carotid
• C. Central retinal vein and choroidal
• D. Optic nerve head vessels and iris vessels

Answer: (A)

The retina receives blood from two separate arterial networks that nourish different layers. The inner retina gets its blood from the central retinal artery, which runs inside the optic nerve and supplies the inner retinal layers such as the ganglion cells and inner nuclear layer. The outer retina depends on the choroidal circulation, supplied by the posterior ciliary arteries, with the choriocapillaris delivering oxygen and nutrients to the photoreceptors. This dual supply—central retinal artery for the inner retina and choroidal circulation for the outer retina—is the reason these two sources are described as the primary retinal blood supply. The other options either describe venous drainage or vessels not primarily responsible for feeding the retina.

The retina receives blood from two separate arterial networks that nourish different layers. The inner retina gets its blood from the central retinal artery, which runs inside the optic nerve and supplies the inner retinal layers such as the ganglion cells and inner nuclear layer. The outer retina depends on the choroidal circulation, supplied by the posterior ciliary arteries, with the choriocapillaris delivering oxygen and nutrients to the photoreceptors.

This dual supply—central retinal artery for the inner retina and choroidal circulation for the outer retina—is the reason these two sources are described as the primary retinal blood supply. The other options either describe venous drainage or vessels not primarily responsible for feeding the retina.