Retina

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˈɹɛt.ɨ.n‌ə/

Origin

From Medieval Latin retina, the diminutive form of Latin rete ("net"), probably from the Vulgar Latin phrase (tunica) *retina, literally "net-like tunic", used to describe the blood vessel system at the back of the eye.

(Gerard of Cremona may have created this phrase as a translation for Arabic (tabaqa) sabakiva "net-like layer", which translates Ancient Greek ἀμφιβληστροειδής (χιτών)'').

Online Etymological Dictionary

Noun

1. (anatomy) The thin layer of cells at the back of the eyeball where light is converted into neural signals sent to the brain.

Derived terms

• retinal
• retinitis
• retinopathy
• detached retina

Anagrams

• retain
• tin ear