Outer plexiform layer

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Outer plexiform layer
Section of retina. (Outer plexiform layer labeled at right, sixth from the top.)
Plan of retinal neurons. (Outer plexiform layer labeled at left, fourth from the bottom.)
Gray's	subject #225 1016
Dorlands/Elsevier	l_05/12480917

The outer plexiform layer (external plexiform layer) is a layer of neuronal synapses in the retina of the eye. It consists of a dense network of synapses between dendrites of horizontal cells from the inner nuclear layer, and photoreceptor cell inner segments from the outer nuclear layer. It is much thinner than the inner plexiform layer, where horizontal cells synapse with retinal ganglion cells.

The synapses in the outer plexiform layer are between the rod cell endings or cone cell branched foot plates and horizontal cells. Unlike in most systems, rod and cone cells release neurotransmitters when not receiving a light signal.

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.