The resistance of the trabecular meshwork to aqueous humor outflow

Abstract

A theoretical model is presented that is able to explain for the first time the pressure drop across the trabecular meshwork. The ramified flow paths in the subendothelial region of the trabecular meshwork can be interpretated as a filter bed. Data from transmission electron microscope (TEM) photographs are the starting point of the theoretical consideration. Taking shrinkage of the sections into account, the pressure gradient across the subendothelial region amounts to 0.05 mm Hg. As these canaliculi are coated by a film of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), the pressure drop is presumably a function of the film thickness. Only film thicknesses of 0.35 μm lead to pressure gradients in the experimentally verified magnitude. As the whole filter bed probably does not contribute to the filtration but only about 10%, the pressure drop specified is reached when the GAG coating is 0.25 μm. As these values seem to be fairly realistic, it can be concluded that the subendothelial region of the juxtacanalicular meshwork (about 2 μm thickness) can be regarded as the “locus generis” of aqueous humor outflow resistance.