Scientific investigation of the retina began with extensive studies of its anatomical structure. The selective staining of neurons achieved by the Golgi method has led to a comprehensive picture of the architecture of the tissue in terms of its individ ual elements. Cajal, in particular, used this tech nique to reveal the fundamentals of retinal struc ture. In the studies that followed, selective stain ing method continued to be decisive in the analysis of neuroanatomy, and in recent years these techniques have been complemented by electron microscopy. The complexity of retinal structure that...