Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 16, 2026

Posterior segment of eyeball

The posterior segment or posterior cavity is the back two-thirds of the eye that includes the anterior hyaloid membrane and all of the optical structures behind it: the vitreous humor, retina, choroid, and optic nerve. The portion of the posterior segment visible during ophthalmoscopy is sometimes referred to as the posterior pole, or fundus. Some ophthalmologists specialize in the treatment and management of posterior segment disorders and diseases.

Last revised
Jun 16, 2026
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Posterior segment
Schematic diagram of the human eye
Details
Identifiers
Latinsegmentum posterius bulbi oculi
MeSHD057972
FMA58868
Anatomical terminology

The posterior segment or posterior cavity1 is the back two-thirds of the eye that includes the anterior hyaloid membrane and all of the optical structures behind it: the vitreous humor, retina, choroid, and optic nerve.2 The portion of the posterior segment visible during ophthalmoscopy (or fundoscopy) is sometimes referred to as the posterior pole, or fundus. Some ophthalmologists specialize in the treatment and management of posterior segment disorders and diseases.3

In some animals, the retina contains a reflective layer (the tapetum lucidum) which increases the amount of light each photosensitive cell perceives, reflecting the light out of the eye, allowing the animal to see better under low light conditions.

See also

See also

References

References