retinula

[ ri-tin-yuh-luh ]

noun

, Anatomy.

, plural re·tin·u·lae [ri-, tin, -y, uh, -lee].

1. a group of elongate neural receptor cells forming part of an arthropod compound eye: each retinula cell leads to a nerve fiber passing to the optic ganglion.

Other Words From

• re·tinu·lar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of retinula¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1875–80; retina, -ule

Example Sentences

Retinula -ae: the retina of a single ocellus: the nerve fibres or cells between pigment cells and retina of the compound eye.

From Project Gutenberg

Rhabdom: the rod lying in the axis of the retinula, below the crystalline cone of an eye.

From Project Gutenberg