Changes with age in dimensions of human foveolar cones

Range Table - link μm
Organism Human Homo sapiens
Reference Yuodelis C, Hendrickson A. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the human fovea during development. Vision Res. 1986 26(6):847-55. p.851 table 2PubMed ID3750868
Method "The horizontal meridian containing the optic disc and fovea was embedded in glycol methacrylate, serially sectioned in a plane perpendicular to the retinal layers at 2-3 µm and stained with azure II-methylene blue or basic fuschin-methylene blue. In each eye, measurements were done on at least three adjacent sections identified as passing through the center of the foveal depression (Yamada, 1969)."
Comments "During the time course of [researchers'] study, the individual cones forming the foveola undergo a remarkable thinning and elongation (Figs 4-9 Table 2).The inner segments first appear at 24-26 weeks gestation, but are prominent by birth, averaging 6µm wide by 9µm long. By 15 months postpartum, they have thinned to 2.5µm wide and have more than doubled in length. At 45 months, the inner segment appears to have reached its adult size, being approximately 2µm wide and 25-30µm long."
Entered by Uri M
ID 108246