Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

APM- Physiology > Physiology of Vision > Flashcards

Physiology of Vision Flashcards

1
Q

What is the white of the eye called?

A

The sclerea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the conjunctiva?

A

The mucous membranes that covers the inside of the papilla fissures the pupil and the white of the sclera

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What does the conductive not cover?

A

The cornea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Which muscle helps with eye movement?

A

The extra ocular muscles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What controls the lens?

A

The Zonule fibres

and ciliary mucles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does the lens control?

A

Its Crystalline structure aids focusing of light onto the retina

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the aim of all the structures in the eyes?

A

To provide a clear path for light to reach the retina

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Describe the cornea

A

It is a Dome-shaped window

It is clear and avascular and continuous with the sclera.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the role of the cornea?

A

It provides the majority of the focusing power of the eye.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Describe the iris

A

Thin, elastic, circular structure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the role of the iris?

A

It is responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupil and thus the amount of light reaching the retina

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What does the iris determine?

A

The iris determines eye colour.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe the lens

A

It is a Crystalline structure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What can clouding of the lens cause?

A

cataracts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the aqueous humour?

A

Transparent gel like fluid which fills the anterior part of the eye between the lens and the cornea.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the aqueous humour formed by?

A

It is formed by the ciliary body and drains via the trabecular meshwork.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What does the aqueous humour do?

A

. It maintains intraocular pressure (IOP), nourishes and removes debris from the avascular anterior segments of the eye.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is glaucoma caused by?

A

Glaucoma is caused by an increase in intraocular pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is a increase in intraocular pressure caused by and what can it lead to?

A

It is commonly caused by degeneration of the trabecular meshwork reducing drainage of the aqueous humour.
It can cause glaucomas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Describe the sclera

A

It is the Fibrous white opaque connective tissue layer covering 5/6 of the eye ball.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is the sclera continuous with?

A

Continuous with the transparent cornea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the sclera made up of?

A

Type 1 collagen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is the cornea made up of?

A

Type 1 collagen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the sclera important for?

A

Giving the eye some structure and support

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Name the 4 layers that are up the posterior eye from outermost

A
  1. Sclera
  2. Choroid
  3. Retina
  4. Vitreous humor/body
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Describe the choroid

A

It is a vascular connective tissue layer.

It contains melanin pigment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What does the choroid do?

A

It nourishes outer 1/3 of the retina

It also stops a lot of the scattered light from causing damage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What is the choroid continuous with?

A

Continuous with the ciliary body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Describe the retina

A

It is the light sensing layer composed of the retinal pigment epithelium and neural retina

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Describe the vitreous humour/body

A

It is a transparent gel found in the back chamber of the eye

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What is the Role of the vitreous humour/body ?

A

It provides the eyeball with structure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What is light focused by?

A

The corona and the lens

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Where does the light go after being focused by the cornea and lens?

A

then passes through the vitreous humor to the retina.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Describe the path of light before hitting the retina

A
  1. cornea
  2. Lens
  3. vitreous humor
  4. retina.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Where are the photoreceptors found?

A

At the back of the retina

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Describe the path light takes once it reaches the retina

A
  1. Ganglion cell layer
  2. Inner plexiform layer
  3. Inner nuclear layer
  4. Outer plexiform layer
  5. Outer nuclear layer
  6. Layer of photoreceptors
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

How may layers make up the retina

A

10

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Name the 10 layers that make up the retina

A
  1. Internal limiting membrane
  2. Nerve fibre layer
  3. Ganglion cell layer
  4. Inner plexiform layer
  5. Inner nuclear layer
  6. Outer plexiform layer
  7. outer nuclear layer
  8. external limiting membrane
  9. photoreceptors
  10. Retinal pigment epithelium
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Name the 1st layer of the retina

A

The retina pigment epithelium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Describe the retina pigment epithelium

A

is a single layer of cuboidal pigment cells that are tightly attached to each other providing part of the outer blood–retinal barrier.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

What do the retina pigment cells contain?

A

Melanin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

What does the melanin in retina pigment epithelium cells do?

A

It absorbs light that was not absorbed by the neural retina

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Name the second layer of the retina

A

The photoreceptors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

What does the photoreceptor layer contain?

A

The photo receptor cells:

The rods and cones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Name the 3rd layer of the retina

A

The external limiting membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

What is the external limiting membrane?

A

It is the junction between the apical processes of the Müller cells and the inner segments of the photoreceptor cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Name the 4th layer of the retina

A

outer nuclear layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

What does the outer nuclear layer contain?

A

contains the photoreceptors nuclei and cell bodies.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

Name the 5th layer of the retina

A

outer plexiform layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

What is the outer plexiform layer composed of?

A

composed of the synapses of the photoreceptor cells with the biopolar cells and the horizontal cells.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

Name the 6th layer of the retina

A

inner nuclear layer

52
Q

What does the inner nuclear layer consist of?

A

consists of the nuclei and cell bodies of the Müller, bipolar and amacrine cells

53
Q

Name the 7th layer of the retina

A

inner plexiform layer

54
Q

What is the inner plexiform layer, the site of?

A

is the site of the synapses between the bipolar cells and ganglion cells
It is also the site of action of the amacrine cells.

55
Q

Name the 8th layer of the retina

A

ganglion cell layer

56
Q

What does the ganglion cell layer contain?

A

Ganglion cell bodies

57
Q

Name the 9th layer of the retina

A

nerve fibre layer

58
Q

What is the nerve fibre layer made up of?

A

and is made of the axons of the retinal ganglion cells as they travel across the vitreous surface before leaving the eye through the optic nerve.

59
Q

Name the 10th layer of the retina

A

The inner limiting membrane layer

60
Q

What is the inner limiting membrane layer composed of?

A

is composed of the basal lamina from the Müller cell projections

61
Q

Name the 2 types if photoreceptors

A

Cones

Rods

62
Q

Describe our cones

A

They have a colour system and work well in daytime

63
Q

Describe our rods

A

They have no colour but work well in low light levels

64
Q

Where does the process of absorption occur?

A

In the outer segments of the photoreceptors

65
Q

What does the outer segment of the photoreceptors contain?

A

contains a stack of membranous disks which contain the light sensitive photopigments.

66
Q

Describe the shape of rod photoreceptors

A

They have a long, cylindrical outer segment containing many disks,

67
Q

Describe the shape of cone photoreceptors

A

They have a short, tapering outer segment with few membranous disks.

68
Q

What do photoreceptors do?

A

They transduce light energy into change in membrane potential

69
Q

Name some retinal cells

A
  1. Horizontal cells
  2. Bipolar cells
  3. Amacrine cells
  4. Ganglion cells
    5, Müller cells
70
Q

What do retinal cells do?

A

They do the ‘pre-processing’ before sending the visual information through the optic nerve

71
Q

What is each photoreceptor in synaptic contact with?

A

2 types of retinal neurones:

Bipolar cells and horizontal cells

72
Q

What do bipolar cells do?

A

They create the direct pathway from photoreceptors to the ganglion cells

73
Q

What do horizontal cells do?

A

They feed information laterally in the outer plexiform layer to influence neighbouring cells

74
Q

What do amacrine cells do?

A

They control and modulate the majority of inputs to the retinal ganglion cells and the ganglion cell responses

75
Q

Name the major glial cells of the retina

A

The Müller cells

76
Q

Where are the Müller cells located?

A

In the neuronal retina and they span the entire depth

77
Q

What do the Müller cells do?

A

Müller cells ensheath all retinal neurons and contribute significantly in mediating their functions and stability

78
Q

Where do all the nerves of the retinal ganglion cell leave the retina from?

A

The optic nerve head

79
Q

What is special about the fovea?

A

There are no blood vessels there and all the retinal cells have been pushed to the side to allow light to hit the photoreceptors more easily

80
Q

Why are there no blood vessels in the fovea?

A

Because this the area where all out high acuity vision is done

81
Q

Which photoreceptors do the fovea contain?

A

Only contains cones (V few rods)

82
Q

Where are the majority of the rods found?

A

In the temporal and nasal retina

83
Q

Where does the number of photoreceptors decrease?

A

As you get to the periphery

84
Q

Where is our blind spot?

A

Where we have our optic disk

85
Q

What is the pigment in all rods called?

86
Q

How many types of opsins are there In cones?

A

3:
Red
Green
Blue

87
Q

What is colour perception determined by?

A

Colour perception is determined by the relative contribution of the blue, green and red cones to the retinal signal.

88
Q

What is colour blindness?

A

Is the inability to see colour or perceive colour differences

89
Q

What is colour deficiency?

A

Is the decreased ability to see colour or perceive colour differences

90
Q

What is total colour blindness called?

A

Achromatopsia

91
Q

How common is Achromatopsia?

A

It is rare affecting 3/100,000

92
Q

What causes Achromatopsia?

A

is caused by genetic mutations which result in only rod photoreceptors being functional.

93
Q

What do patients with Achromatopsia see?

A

Affected patients see no colour but also have poor vision in bright light due to the sensitivity of the rod photoreceptors (one photon activates a response). They also have poor visual acuity due to lack of cones.

94
Q

What is Dichromacy?

A

When One of the three basic colour mechanisms is not functioning

95
Q

Name the 3 types of Dichromacy

A
  1. Deuteranopia (mutation of green opsin)
  2. Protanopia (mutation of red opsin)
  3. Tritanopia (mutation of blue opsin)
96
Q

Which od the 2 types of Dichromacy are x linked?

A
  1. Deuteranopia (mutation of green opsin)

2. Protanopia (mutation of red opsin)

97
Q

Who is more predominantly affected by red- green deficiency?

A

Males due to X-linked inheritance. The red and green opsin genes are on the X-chromosome.
5% of men have mutant green opsin and 1% have mutant red opsin.

98
Q

What is the test that we use to check colour blindness called?

A

Iskikara test

99
Q

What is Phototransduction?

A

It is the process by which light is converted into electrical signals in the rod and cone cells.

100
Q

What are the photo pigment proteins (rhodopsin and opsins)

A

They are G- protein coupled receptors which are chemically attached to a vitamin A derived chromophore

101
Q

What are rhodopsin and opsin attached to

A

chemically attached to a vitamin A derived chromophore called 11-cis retinal

102
Q

Describe the phototransduction pathway

A

Light photons strike the chromophore and cause a conformational change to all-trans retinal.
This isomerization triggers the visual process by activating a signal transduction cascade.

103
Q

What happens when a photon of light activates an 11-cis-retina?

A

It changes it to all-trans–retinal

104
Q

Describe all-trans–retinal

A

They are not photosensitive to the opsin

105
Q

What is the visual cycle?

A

All-trans-retinal are not photosensitive so the opsin must release this chromophore and replace it with more 11-cis-retinal. This process is called the visual cycle.

106
Q

Go through the visual cycle

A
  1. 11 cis retinol
  2. converted into 11 cis retinal by enzyme 11 CIS RETINOL DEHYDROGENASE
  3. converted into visual pigments
  4. converted into all trans retinal when light hits the visual pigment
  5. Converted into all trans retinol by enzyme ALL TRANS RETINOL DEHRIGENASE/REDUCATASE
  6. connverted into retinal esters by enzyme LECIUTHIN RETINUL ACYLTRANSFERASE
  7. Converted into 11cis retinol by enzyme RETINOIS ISOMEROHYDROLASE
107
Q

Name the molecules involved in the visual cycle

A
  1. 11 cis retinol
  2. 11 cis retinal
  3. Visual pigment
  4. All trans retinal
  5. all trans retino
  6. Retinyl esters
  7. 11 cis retinol
108
Q

What does the enzyme 11 cis retinol dehydrogenase do?

A

Converts 11 cis retinol into 11 cis retinal

109
Q

What does the enzyme all trans retinol dehydrogenase/ reductase do?

A

Converts all trans retinal into all trans retinol

110
Q

What does the enzyme lectin retinol acyltransferase do?

A

Converts all trans retinol into retinyl esters

111
Q

What does the enzyme retinoid isomerohydrolase do?

A

Converts retinal esters into 11 cis retinol

112
Q

What can the consequences of one of the proteins in the visual cycle being mutated?

A

Can lead to inherited blindness

113
Q

Describe the signal transduction process in photoreceptors

A
  1. Guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-bound inactive transducin will exchange GDP for guanosine triphosphate (GTP) following interaction with activated rhodopsin.
  2. The activated GTP-bound α-subunit of transducin dissociates and activates cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) phosphodiesterase (PDE).
  3. PDE hydrolyzes cGMP to 5’GMP. The result is decreased levels of cGMP in the cytoplasm. This causes the closing of cGMP-gated ion channels leading to membrane hyperpolarization.
  4. In photoreceptors, the neurotransmitters are released in depolarized membranes (dark light).
114
Q

Where in the eye is there a really high pixel density?

A

In the fovea

115
Q

A single photo activated rhodopsin catalyses the activation of approximately how many transduction molecules?

A

500 approx

116
Q

Describe the 5 main features of rods

A
  1. High sensitivity to light
  2. Have more photopigment that cones
  3. High amplification
  4. Low temporal resolution and slower response
  5. More sensitive to scattered light
117
Q

Describe the 5 main features of cones

A
  1. Low sensitivity to light (specialised for day vision)
  2. Have less photopigment that rods
  3. Low amplification
  4. High temporal resolution and faster response
  5. More sensitive to direct light rays
118
Q

Does the rod system have a high or low acuity?

119
Q

Where in the retina are rod not present?

120
Q

How may pigments does the rod system have?

A

1 so it is described as achromatic

121
Q

Does the cone system have a high or low acuity?

122
Q

How may pigments does the rod system have?

A

3 so it is described as trichromatic

123
Q

How are our photoreceptor cells arranged in the retina?

A

They are set up in receptive fields

124
Q

Take through the structures involved in the visual pathway

A
  1. Retina
  2. Optic nerves
  3. Optic chiasm
  4. Optic tract
  5. Lateral geniculate nuclei
  6. Optic radiations
  7. Visual cortex
125
Q

Where is the visual cortex?

A

The occipital lobe

126
Q

Name the first region of visual processing in the cortex

A

The striate cortex

APM- Physiology (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions