Physiology Flashcards
What must occur for us to see?
Light must enter the eye- Not too much or little
Light must fall on photoreceptors
Photoreceptors must generate current
Brain must interpret electrical signals
Where are photoreceptors found?
In the inner layer of the eye- Retina
Where in the laminar structure of the retina are the photoreceptors found?
Deep
What is found on top of the photoreceptors?
Bipolar cells then ganglion cells
What cells link photoreceptor cells with each other and and bipolar cells?
Horizontal cells
What cells link bipolar cells with each other and ganglion cells?
Amacrine cells
What must light pass through to reach the photoreceptors?
Pupil, lens, posterior chamber of the eye, ganglion cells, bipolar cells, amacrine cells and horizontal cells
What kind of photoreceptors do we possess?
Cones
Rods
What do photoreceptors do?
Transduce electromagnetism to neuronal signals
What are the 4 main regions of photoreceptors?
Synaptic terminals
Cell bodies
Inner segment
Outer segment
Where does signal transduction occur in photoreceptors?
Outer segment
In what type of light do rods help us see?
Dim/dark
In what type of light do cones help us to see?
Bright
Describe the basal state of photoreceptors
Marginally depolarised (-20mV)
What happens when photoreceptors are exposed to light?
Becomes hyperpolarized
What is the dark current?
The constantly depolarised state photoreceptors experience in the dark
What causes the dark current?
An open Na channel
Describe the dark current
Continuously open Na channels depolarise photosensitive cell to between Na and K Vm (-20mV)
What does this dark current result in?
Constant neurotransmitter (glutamate) release
How does light switch off the dark current?
Light activates GPCR rhodopsin.
Rhodopsin activates PDE through GMP
PDE hydrolyses cGMP thus reducing its conc
Decrease in cGMP levels close cGMP dependent Na channels leading to hyperpolarization of cell
Is phototransduction high or low gain?
High gain
What is rhodopsin?
A photosensitive GPCR