Neuro 2000 Visual System

Question 1

Explain what light is.

Answer 1

electromagnetic energy, wave of photons (particles) aka radiation

Question 2

What are photons measured in?

Answer 2

waves;
meters; m
nanometers; nm
angstroms; Å

Question 3

Explain what a wavelength is.

Answer 3

The horizontal distance between the crests or troughs of two adjacent waves correlated to frequency.

Question 4

Explain the reflection of photons

Answer 4

emitted from light source through chemical reactions and we see different levels of absorption through reflection

Question 5

Photoreceptor cells.

Answer 5

rods and cones

Question 6

What are the most dangerous of the electromagnetic spectrum?

Answer 6

-gamma rays (danger)
-x rays (danger)
-uv rays (not super danger)
these three are ionizing radition and cause damage to body.

Question 7

What rays can humans detect?

Answer 7

between uv and infrared (visible light)
other organisms can detect more

Question 8

Name the three color photoreceptors.

Answer 8

-blue
-green
-red

Question 9

What is the wavelength of blue photoreceptors?

Answer 9

420 nm (wavelength)

Question 10

What is the wavelength of green photoreceptors?

Answer 10

534 nm (wavelength)

Question 11

What is the wavelength of red photoreceptors?

Answer 11

564 nm (wavelength)
red and green can overlap (colorblindness)

Question 12

Explain the function of the cornea.

Answer 12

-protects eye from outside infiltrates and ultraviolet radiation
-responsible for 65% to 80% of refraction of light as it passes through the eye.

Question 13

Explain the function of the lens.

Answer 13

the curved transparent structure behind the pupil. helps
-transmit light
-focuses the light that the cornea captures and projects it onto the retina.

Question 14

Explain the function of the retina.

Answer 14

inner surface of the eye, containing receptor rods and cones, layers of neurons that
-begin the processing of visual information (back of the eye)

Question 15

Explain the function of the fovea.

Answer 15

the central focal point in the retina, around which the eye’s cones cluster, saturated with cone photoreceptors.
-easy for light to pass through
-responsible for high-acuity vision

high-acuity vision: seeing fine details and patterns in a sharp or clear way (ex; reading, driving a car, recognising features)

Question 16

Define high-acuity vision.

Answer 16

someone’s ability to recognize small details at a far distance

Question 17

Explain the function of rods.

Answer 17

retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray.
-necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones dont respond
-reacts to 500 nm of light

Question 18

Explain the function of cones.

Answer 18

retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the reina and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions.
-detect fine detail and give rise to color (red, green, blue) sensations

Question 19

Explain the function of opsin.

Answer 19

a class of protein
-absorbing light

Question 20

Summarize the process of seeing light.

Answer 20

Your eyes photoreceptors convert light energy into nerve impulses (actions potential) that the brain can understand.

Question 21

Explain what phototransduction is.

Answer 21

the process that occurs in the retina where light is converted into electrical signals that can be understood by the nervous system