Where are light receptors located in the mammalian eye?

Light receptors in the mammalian eye are located in the retina.

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What are the two types of light receptor cell?

There are two main types of light receptor cells in the retina: rod cells and cone cells.

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How do light receptor cells function as transducers?

Light receptor cells function as transducers by converting light energy into electrical impulses that can be transmitted as nerve impulses.

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What is the primary function of rod cells in vision?

Rod cells are primarily responsible for detecting light of very low intensity, allowing for vision in low-light conditions.


Rod cells do not distinguish between different wavelengths of light, resulting in black and white vision.

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What is retinal convergence, and how does this contribute to low-light vision?

Retinal convergence is the phenomenon where many rod cells are connected to a single sensory neurone in the optic nerve.



This contributes to low-light vision by increasing the chances of reaching the threshold for generating a nerve impulse.

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What is the role of retinal pigments in rod cells and cone cells?

Retinal pigments are essential for absorbing light energy and being broken down to initiate the process of generating a nerve impulse in the eye.


In rod cells, the retinal pigment rhodopsin generates nerve impulses in response to low-intensity light.


In cone cells, the retinal pigment iodopsin generates nerve impulses in response to specific wavelengths of light and contributes to colour vision.

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What is the primary function of cone cells in vision?

Cone cells are photoreceptors that allow us to perceive colour, as the three types of cone cells are sensitive to different wavelengths of light.

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Why can mammalian eyes perceive colour effectively in only high light intensity conditions?

  1. Cone cells require higher light intensities to initiate the breakdown of pigments
  2. Most cone cells connect to a separate bipolar cell so the stimulation of many cone cells cannot be combined to help exceed the threshold value and create a generator potential

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What is visual acuity, and how does it differ between rod cells and cone cells?

Visual acuity refers to the ability to distinguish fine details.


Rod cells provide low visual acuity as they share connections to a single bipolar cell, which generates a single impulse that travels along the optic nerve to the brain.


Cone cells offer high visual acuity because each has its own connection to a separate bipolar cell, which generate impulses that travel along the optic nerve to the brain.

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Where are cone cells and rod cells located in the eye, and why?

Cone cells are mainly concentrated at the fovea, the point on the retina directly opposite the pupil, where light is focused. This is because they require higher light intensities.


Rod cells are found in greater numbers away from the fovea. This allows for peripheral vision and better functioning in low-light conditions.

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