Question

Name the photoreceptors found in the retina of the eye.

Answer 1

Photoreceptors:

A photoreceptor cell or photoreceptors are specialized types of neurons that are seen in the retina of the eye, which is capable of phototransduction.

Retina:

1. The retina is the innermost layer of the eyeball.
2. It is the light-sensitive layer of the eye and acts as a film of a camera where an image is formed.

Photoreceptors found in the retina of the eye are:

Rods:

1. Capable of scotopic vision (low light levels), they have a low spatial acuity and do not mediate color
2. Populated at the periphery of the retina.
3. They are rod-shaped, facilitating vision during dim light/night
4. Contain rhodopsin pigment rich in vitamin A responsible for the night vision hence making rods sensitive to light
   

Cones:

1. Capable of photopic vision(higher light levels), they are responsible for high spatial acuity and responsible for color vision
2. They are populated in the central fovea region and are mostly found in the retina.
3. They help distinguish color and other fine details and are cone-shaped
4. They are of three types – long-wavelength sensitive cones(L-cones), middle-wavelength sensitive cones (M-cones), and short-wavelength sensitive cones (S-cones).
5. These contain iodopsin pigment known as violet pigment.