Summary table of human rod numbers and densities Summary table of human rod numbers and densities
(modified and expanded from Curcio et al., 1990, Table 2)
Study Age Total Diameter Peak Quadrant Eccentric Mean
number of density of peak* ity of density
foveal (rods/mm2) peak (rods/mm2)
rod free (mm)
zone
(µm)
-
Krause n.a. 130,000,000 --- --- --- -- ---
(1868)
Østerberg 16 110,000,000 260# 170,000 S - N 6.2 104,100
(1935) -
125,000,000
Polyak n.a. ---- 500-600+ --- --- --- ---
(1941)
Yamada 45 --- 570+ --- --- --- ---
(1969)
Yuodelis 37 --- 683+ --- --- --- ---
& 72 --- 720+ --- --- --- ---
Hendricks
on
(1986)
Ahnelt 47 --- 250-300# --- --- --- ---
et al.
(1987)
Curcio 44 --- --- 189,000 S - T 4.2 ---
et al. 27 --- --- 186,000 S - N 4.0 ---
(1990) 35 77,870,000 --- 158,000 I - T 3.8 90,960
34 107,270,00 350 #% 181,000 S - N 4.0 111,250
35 - L* 90,730,000 --- 161,000 S - N 3.8 82,350
35 - R* --- --- 173,000 S - N 5.0 ---
36 --- --- --- --- --- ---
32 --- --- --- --- --- ---
*N - nasal; T - temporal; S - superior; I - inferior; L - left eye; R - right eye.
+Estimated from horizontal sections through the inner segments or whole mounts.
# Estimated from zone devoid of rod nuclei in the outer nuclear layer.
% Average value.
ReferencesAhnelt, P.K., Kolb, H. & Pflug, R. (1987). Identification of a subtype of cone photoreceptor, likely to be blue sensitive, in the human retina. Journal of Comparative Neurology 255, 18-34.
Curcio, C.A. & Allen, K.A. (1990). Topography of ganglion cells in human retina. Journal of comparative Neurology 293, .
Krause, W. (1868). Über Stäbchen und Zapfen der Retina. Nachr. v. d. K. Gesells. d. Wiss. Göttingen, p. 163.
Østerberg, G.A. (1935). Topography of the layer of rods and cones in the human retina. Acta Ophthalmologica 13 (Supplement 6) 1-97.
Polyak, S. (1941). The Retina. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Yamada, E. (1969). Some structural features of the fovea centralis in the human retina. Archives of Ophthalmology 82, 151-159.
Yuodelis, C. & Hendrickson, A. (1986). A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the human fovea during development. Vision Research 26, 847-855.
