Visual Systems Flashcards
List the pathway of light as it enters the eye
Through the cornea, lens, vitreous and formaing an image on the retina (inverted and reversed). In the retina photorecptors transduce the light stimuli into eletctrical signals and relay the eletrical signals through a series of neurons to form the visal pathway
What is the pigmented layer?
Represented as a single layer of epithelial cells adjacent to the choroid of the eyeball
Where do the pigmented cell processes extend to?
Extend slightly into the neural layer
What do pigmented cells contain?
melanin pigment
What is the function of the pigmented layer?
Support to rods and cones
Absorb light and reduce light that can be reflected from the choroid
What is the neural layer?
Includes the photoreceptors of the retina and neurons that relay visual data to the brain
What is the ratio of rods to cones?
20:1
What photosensitive chemical is found in rods?
Rhodopsin
What does light do to rhodopsin?
Light changes the configuration of rhodopsin and results in a change in the membrane potential of the rod cell
What is the result of membrane potential change of the rod cells?
It leads to the rods transducing light information into visual data
Are the rod distribution even across the retina?
No the distribution of rods is uneven across the retina
Where are rods more prevalent in the retina?
More prevalent in the peripheral parts of the retina and absent from the most central retina
What is the function of rods?
Peripheral vision
Vision in low light conditions (low resolution vision)
What factors allow the rods to function?
Properties of rhodopsin, distribution of rods in the retina and details of the visual pathway
are there more rods or cones?
Rods
How many types of cone receptors are there?
3
What is different about each type of cone receptor?
Each includes one of three photosensitive pigments that are similar to rhodopsin and absorb either red, green or blue light
Where are cones found?
In the central-most retina
What happens to the ratio of cones to rods as it moves from the central retina to the periphery?
The ratio of cones to rods decreases
What is the function of cones?
Color vision
Vision of high resolution
What is the macula lutea?
“yellow spot”
Central part of retina or visual center
WHat is the relationship between the macula lutea to the visual axis?
Macula lutea is in line with the visual axis
WHat is the ratio of cones to rods at the macula lutea?
Ratio is high (cones > rods)
WHat type of vision is the macula lutea responsible for
Vision of high resolution or acuity
What is the fovea centralis?
Depression in center of macula
How does the size of the fovea centralis compare to that of the macula lutea?
The Macula lutea is about 3 times bigger
What is the center of the fovea known as?
foveola
What does the foveola contain?
Contains only cones
Where is the highest vision resolution found?
At the foveola
What is the ora serrata?
Peripheral border of the functional retina
What is the optic papilla also known as?
Optic Disc
What is the optic papilla?
Area of the retina where neuron fibers converge to form the optic nerve
What is the size of the optic papilla in comparison to the macula lutea?
About the same size
Where is the optic papilla located relative to the macula?
Medial or nasally and a little superior
HOw is the optic papilla easily identified?
It is the area of the retina where there is divergence/convergence of retinal vessels
What is the blind spot?
Where the optic disc forms and therefore no rods or cones. Or where retinal vessels converge (retinal artery, vein and optic nerve
What is a condition of increased intracranial pressure present as?
Papilladema
What are bipolar cells?
True neurons that innervate either rods or cones
How many rods are typically in contact with a bipolar that engages rods near the macula?
10 rods
How many rods are typically in contact with a bipolar that engages rods near the ora serrata?
100 rods
What is the significance of the summation of information from many rods onto a single bipolar cell?
The rod system is sensitive to low light vision and provide vision of low resolution