Where are Palisades of Vogt located and what is their significance?

• A. At the limbus; they are stem cell niches for corneal epithelium
• B. In the retina; indicate rod-rich region
• C. In the iris; indicate pigment production
• D. At the corneal center; mark nerve endings

Answer: (A)

Palisades of Vogt are located at the limbus, the border between the cornea and sclera. They are radial, palisade-like ridges and crypts that form a specialized microenvironment housing limbal stem cells, the cells responsible for renewing the corneal epithelium. This niche is crucial for continual corneal surface regeneration and quick healing after injury, helping maintain corneal transparency. If these stem cells are damaged or deficient, the cornea can fail to regenerate properly, leading to conjunctival invasion and scarring. They are not in the retina, iris, or central cornea, and they don’t relate to pigment production or nerve endings.