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Abstract
The vascular requirements of the retina are met by two distinct morphologic capillary types. Of these, the choriocapillaris presents a highly polarized appearance with an attenuated and fenestrated endothelium. These specializations are lacking in the second type, namely, those vessels derived from the central artery of the retina. The functional roles of these capillaries would appear to be in accord with their morphologic characteristics. Injection studies with ferritin and studies of prolonged ingestion of silver nitrate in drinking water suggest that the choriocapillaris provides a major fraction of the fluid and nutrients moving into the retina.