Midterm 1: Chapter 3 Flashcards
What is vision based on?
Visible light; a band of energy within the electromagnetic spectrum.
The distance between the peaks of the electromagnetic waves.
Wavelength
The energy within the electromagnetic spectrum that humans can perceive has wavelengths ranging from about 400-700 nm.
Visible light
Light reflected from objects in the environment enters the eye through the _________.
Pupil
The clear, dome-shaped outer layer of the eye that covers the iris and pupil, and lets light in/ focuses the light reflected.
Cornea
From sharp images of the objects/focuses light onto the retina
Lens
The network of neurons that covers the back of the eye and that contains the receptors from vision.
Retina
Receptors for vision; function by converting light into electrical signals; has cones, and rods.
Photoreceptors
Reacts to light and triggers electrical signals; in the outer segments
Visual Pigments
The part of the receptor that contains light-sensitive chemicals is called visual pigments.
Outer Segment
Contains a million optic nerve fibers that conduct signals toward the brain.
Optic Nerve
When we look directly at an object, the object’s image falls on the __________, contains only cones
Fovea
Includes all of the retina outside of the fovea, contains both rods and cones.
Peripheral Retina
Destroys the cone-rich fovea and a small area that surrounds it. This creates a blind region in central vision.
Macular Degeneration
Degeneration of the retina that is passed from one generation to the next. First attacks the peripheral rod receptors and results in poor vision in the peripheral visual field.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Area in the retina where there are no photoreceptors.
Blind Spot
What don’t we see our blind spot?
A mechanism in the brain fills in the place where the image disappears.
What two parts of the eye focuses light reflected from an object into the eye onto the retina?
Cornea and lens
Can change its shape to adjust the eye’s focus for objects located at different distances
Lens
What is important about lens being able to adjust?
It controls a process called accommodation; comes to the rescue to help prevent blurring.
The change in the lens’ shape that occurs when the ciliary muscles at the front of the eye tighten and increase the curvature of the lens so that it gets thicker.
Accommodation
Age-related loss of ability to accommodate
Presbyopia
An inability to see distant objects clearly; occurs when the optical system brings parallel rays of light into focus at a point in front of the retina, so the image that reaches the retina is blurred.
Myopia/Nearsightedness
The cornea and/or the lens bends the light too much
Refractive Myopia
Eyeball is too long
Axial Myopia