How does the outer nuclear layer appear on an OCT scan?

How does the outer nuclear layer appear on an OCT scan?

• A. Black
• B. Bright white band
• C. Light medium gray
• D. Dark medium gray

Answer: (D)

On OCT, brightness reflects how much light a tissue backscatters. The outer nuclear layer, which contains photoreceptor cell bodies, has relatively subtle internal structure that backscatters less light than the highly organized layers nearby. This makes it appear as a medium-dark band, sitting between the thin hyperreflective border above (outer limiting membrane) and the relatively brighter adjacent outer retinal layers. So the outer nuclear layer shows up as a dark medium gray on the scan.

On OCT, brightness reflects how much light a tissue backscatters. The outer nuclear layer, which contains photoreceptor cell bodies, has relatively subtle internal structure that backscatters less light than the highly organized layers nearby. This makes it appear as a medium-dark band, sitting between the thin hyperreflective border above (outer limiting membrane) and the relatively brighter adjacent outer retinal layers. So the outer nuclear layer shows up as a dark medium gray on the scan.