Vision Flashcards
Scotopic vision
monochromatic vision produced through the rods in low light
Photopic vision
chromatic vision produced through the cones under well-lit conditions
Dark current
continuous inflow of Na+ and Ca++ into rods and cones in dark through cGMP-regulated channels
Hemidecussation
partial crossing of optic fibers in the chiasma opticum ensuring that information collected from the same part of the visual field by the two retinas is analyzed in the same hemisphere
Optical illusion
distortion of visual perception at the cortical level caused by previous experiences
Sclera
the outmost, white layer of the eyeball
Cornea
frontal, transparent part of the sclera with the highest refracting power
Conjuctiva
very sensitive epithelial membrane covering the sclera and cornea and lining the inside of the eyelids
Iris
circular, pigmented membrane behind the cornea, perforated by the pupil
Choroid
the middle, vascularized layer of the eyeball
Fovea centralis
a depression in the center of the macula of the retina, where only cones are present
Blind spot (optic disc)
the spot of the retina, where the axons of the ganglion cells and blood vessels penetrate the wall of the eyeball
Musculus ciliaris
the lens is attached to the ciliary body in the eye, its contraction is needed for accommodation
Glaucoma
eye disease caused by an excessive intraocular pressure due to a disturbance in the production and reabsorption of the aqueous humor
Cataract
eye disease caused by an opacity of the lens
Presbiopia
in elderly people the lens looses its flexibility, thus accommodation is no longer possible for short distances
Cis-retinal
organic compound derived from vitamin A
Transducin
G-protein in rods and cones, activated by the photopigment during light detection
Rhodopsin
photopigment of the rods
Opsin
protein part of the photopigment
Horizontal cell
inhibitory interneuron in the retina connecting receptor cells
Amacrin cell
interneuron in the retina establishing horizontal connections mostly close to the ganglion cells
Melanopsin
photopigment contained by the W ganglion cells
M ganglion cell
ganglion cell projecting to the magnocellular layer of the corpus geniculatum laterale
P ganglion cell
ganglion cell projecting to the parvocellular layer of the corpus geniculatum laterale
Color blindness
disturbance of color vision caused in most cases by a mutation in the genes coding for the photopigments