The Visual System (3) Flashcards
Electromagnetic energy that we can see
Light
The white outer layer, the “eyeball
Sclera
The eye’s clear outer covering
Cornea
Reflects our eye colour
Iris
The black hole in the iris
Pupil
Focuses light rays
Lens
Nearsightedness
Myopia
Farsightedness
Hyperopia
“Old-sightedness”
Presbyopia
The eye does not focus light evenly on the retina
Astigmatism
What are the three main roles of photoreceptors?
- Convert light energy into action potentials
- Discriminate between wavelengths
- Distinguish between light intensities
What is the orientation of objects projected onto the retina relative to what we see?
Upside down and backwards
Region at the center of the retina that is specialized for high visual acuity
Fovea
Why is vision “sharpest” at the centre of the visual field rather than the outer areas?
Higher density of photoreceptors at the centre of the retina and slight depression at the fovea
Region of the retina where axons forming the optic nerve leave the eye and where blood vessels enter and leave
Blind spot
Intracranial pressure increase leading to the swelling of the optic disc
Papilledema
What is the energy conversion pathway enacted by the retina’s photoreceptors?
Light energy to chemical energy to neural activity
What are the characteristics of rods?
- Longer than cones, cylindrical
- More numerous than cones
- Sensitive to low light levels
- Used for night vision
- One type of pigment
What are the characteristics of cones?
- Tapered
- Sensitive to bright light
- Colour and high visual acuity
- Three types of pigment (red, blue, green)
- Randomly distributed across the retina
What are the four cell types in layer one of the retinal neurons?
Horizontal, bipolar, Amacrine, Muller
Links photoreceptors and bipolar cells
Horizontal cell
Receives input from photoreceptors
Bipolar cell
Links bipolar cells and retinal ganglion cells (layer two)
Amancrine cell
Glial cells that help channel light to the retina
Muller cell
Collection of axons at the optic disc that leave the eye and give rise to the optic nerve.
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs)
What are the two major categories of RGCs?
Magnocellular cells, parvocellular cells