Physiology of the Visual System (Pierce) Flashcards
What are the synaptic connections of rods and cones
Rods/Cones –> Bipolar Cells –> Ganglion Cells
What NTs is released in the synapse between:
- Photoreceptor + Bipolar cell
- Bipolar cell + Ganglion cell
- Glutamate
- Glutamate
Which photoreceptor sacrifices acuity to gain sensitivity and can operate in dim light
Rod system
Many rods synapse on many bipolar cells. Bipolar cells synpase on one ganglion cell
What photoreceptor has the most acuity
Cones
1 cone + 1 bipolar cell + 1 ganglion cell
In the retina, where are rods most abundant?
Where are cones most abundant?
Rods - 20 degrees away from fovea
Cones - Center of fovea
What visual conditions cause higher glutamate release from rods/cones?
Darkness
What visual conditions cause lower glutamate release from rods/cones?
Light
How does Glutamate serve as a inhibitory NTs when it is typically an excitatory NTs?
The receptor that glutamate binds to determines it’s functionality.
When bound to NMDA, AMPA or Kainate it is excitatory
What receptor is expressed by Bipolar cells
mGluR6
What is the function of mGluR6
Closes cGMP-gated Na+ channels.
This allows a typically excitatory NTs like Glutamate to act inhibitory
What receptor is expressed on the ganglion cells
Normal NMDA or non-NMDA receptors
Gluatamate acts as a typical excitatory NTs.
Explain what happens in photoreceptors in conditions of darkness
Photoreceptor depolarized –> graded potential –> Glutamate released –> Glutamte acts as inhibitor –> Bipolar cell not depolarized –> No impulse sent to brain
Explain what happens to photoreceptors in conditions of light
Photoreceptor hyperpolarized –> Graded potential not generated –> No inhibitory Glutamate released –> Bipolar cell spontaneously depolarizes –> visual ipulse is sent to brain
What are the direct targets of the retina
Lateral geniculate nucleus/body (LGB)
Superior Colliculus
Pretectum
Hypothalamus
Accessory Optic Nuclei (AON)
What is the major target of the retina and regulates the flow of information to the primary visual cortex
Lateral geniculate nucleus/body (LGN/LGB)