Bruch's membrane
You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.
| Bruch's membrane | |
|---|---|
| Latin | lamina basalis choroideae |
| MeSH | Bruch+membrane |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | l_02/12475917 |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-525-6884
Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
Bruch's membrane is the innermost layer of the choroid.
Layers
Bruch's membrane consists of five layers:
- the basement membrane of the retinal pigment epithelium
- the inner collagenous zone
- a central band of elastic fibers
- the outer collagenous zone
- the basement membrane of the choriocapillaris
The retinal pigment epithelium transports metabolic waste from the photoreceptors across Bruch's membrane to the choroid.
Pathology
Bruch's membrane thickens with age slowing the transport of metabolites. This may lead to the formation of drusen in age-related macular degeneration. There is also a build up of deposits (Basal Linear Deposits or BLinD and Basal Lamellar Deposits BLamD) on and within the membrane. This build up seems to fragment the membrane into a lamellar structure more like puff-pastry than a barrier. Inflammatory and neovascular mediators can then invite choroidal vessels to grow into and beyond the fragmented membrane. This neovascular membrane destroys the architecture of the outer retina and leads to sudden loss of central vision - wet age related macular degeneration.
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum, myopia and trauma can also cause defects in Bruch's membrane which may lead to choroidal neovascularization. Alport's Syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting the alpha(IV) collagen chains, can also lead to defects in the Bruch membrane such as 'dot and fleck' retinopathy.
Eponym
Bruch's membrane was named after the German anatomist Karl Wilhelm Ludwig Bruch.
External links
Sensory system - Visual system - Eye | |
|---|---|
| Fibrous tunic (outer) | Conjunctiva • Sclera • Schlemm's canal • Trabecular meshwork • Limbus Cornea (Epithelium, Bowman's, Stroma, Descemet's, Endothelium) |
| Uvea (middle) | Choroid (Ciliary processes, Choriocapillaris, Bruch's membrane) • Iris (Stroma) • Pupil • Ciliary body |
| Retina (inner) | Macula • Fovea • Optic disc |
| Anterior segment | Anterior chamber • Aqueous humour • Posterior chamber • Lens |
| Posterior segment | Vitreous humour • Zonule of Zinn |
| Intraocular muscles | parasympathetic (Ciliary muscle, Iris sphincter muscle) • sympathetic (Iris dilator muscle) |
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
