Which layer primarily houses the deep capillary network of the central retinal artery?

• A. Inner nuclear layer
• B. Outer nuclear layer
• C. Ganglion cell layer
• D. RNFL

Answer: (A)

The deep capillary network of the central retinal artery lies in the inner nuclear layer. The retina has two main capillary plexuses from the retinal circulation: a superficial plexus that runs in the nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer near the inner surface, and a deeper plexus located within the inner nuclear layer. This inner nuclear layer houses the cell bodies of bipolar, amacrine, and horizontal cells, which the deep plexus nourishes. The outer retina, by contrast, receives nutrition from the choroidal circulation rather than the central retinal artery. So, the layer that primarily contains the deep capillary network is the inner nuclear layer.