Variations in the Intraneural Course of the Central Vein of the Retina

During the course of the examination of serial sections of a number of optic nerves for an entirely different purpose, frequent variations in the course of the central vein of the retina with relation to the course of the central artery of the retina were found. Because these variations occurred with such regularity and in such a considerable percentage of the cases examined, and because they differed markedly from the usually described course of the central vein, it was considered of importance to make this record of them. Whitnall, who followed the description of Hoveloque, gives the following course for the central vein. The vena centralis retinae accompanies the artery of the same name in its intraneural course, though according to Hoveloque (1920) it emerges from the optic nerve on either the lateral or inferior side nearer (10 mm. from) the globe; it most frequently opens separately into the cavernous