On the periphery, the ring of the retrociliary cisterns is attached to a dense matter, which constitutes the outer, solid part of the vitreous body. The retrociliary cisterns in their ring shape lie on the somewhat concave surface of this solid supporting substance. Equatorial and petaliform cisterns are embedded within the solid matter and surround the central VB cone, which incorporates the VB canals.
Dissecting the VB with the trampoline technique, one can see the systems of cisterns arranged in tiers relative to the central axis, and thus one can reach the posterior pole of the VB, which represents the most important formations in both anatomical and functional terms: the bursa premacularis and cisterna preoptica. These formations are surrounded by a dense matter that is usually referred to as the VB cortex. From the outside, the bursa premacularis and the cisterna preoptica themselves are covered with a thin layer of the posterior hyaloid membrane.
The structural anatomical differences of the two constituent components of the VB, i.e. the cisterns with the canals and the dense vitreous casing enclosing them, can be demonstrated in semi- macroscopical studies by a blunt separation of the retrociliary ring of the cisterns from the solid base they lie on.
In the very center of the ring of the retrociliary cisterns, is the lenticular part (pars lenticularis) of the lentico-macular canal, first described and named by Z. Makhacheva in 1993 as canalis lentico- macularis.
Thus, the vitreous body looks like a ball with truncated surfaces. The anterior surface has a larger diameter of the truncated area and a somewhat concave shape; retrociliary cisterns are situated upon it. In the very center of the anterior surface, surrounded by a ring of retrociliary cisterns, there is a central cone that contains the VB canals. Equatorial and petaliform cisterns surrounding the central cone are embedded in the thick cortical casing. I noted a consistent asymmetry in the distribution of cisterns: there are much more of them on the temporal side than on the nasal side. At the posterior pole, the cortical substance becomes thinner and is practically absent in the area of the bursa premacularis and the prepapillary part of the optico-ciliary canal.
The bursa premacularis, which constitutes the pars macularis of the canalis lentico-macularis Makhacheva, looks like a horizontal oval from the perspective of the retina, the average size of which is 6 mm x 5 mm.
When viewed from the retina, the pars papillaris of the canalis optico-ciliaris Makhacheva has the shape of a vertical oval, the dimensions of which are 3 mm x 4 mm. The walls of the pars papillaris are attached to the optic nerve head along its edges.
In my opinion, the name "prepapillary space" is more accurate than "cisterna preoptica", since it is not a separate entity like the bursa premacularis, but only a local expansion of the canal.
The prepapillary space is separated from the optic nerve head by a thin membrane, in which there are openings for the passage of the retinal vessels. It is possible that these openings serve as the intravitreal fluid outflow channels into the perivascular spaces of the optic nerve.
There is a canaliculus communicans Makhacheva between the bursa premacularis and the prepapillary part of the canalis optico-ciliaris Makhacheva.
This anatomical connection between the prepapillary space and the bursa premacularis indicates their functional interaction and explains the involvement of both the macular area and the optic nerve, which is observed in clinical practice.
