Canadian Medical Guide > Anatomy > Nervous System > Neurons > Neurons, Afferent > Photoreceptors > Photoreceptors, Vertebrate Terms and Definitions

Photoreceptors, Vertebrate

Medical Definition:	Cells specialized to detect and transduce light. Rods and cones are the photoreceptors in the vertebrate retina.
Guide Notes:	note X ref RODS AND CONES: these are vertebrate only but RODS (RETINA) & CONES (RETINA) are also available
Previously Indexed:	Photoreceptors (1971-1998)

Photoreceptors, Vertebrate Categories.

	Cones (Retina) - One of the two photoreceptor cell types in the vertebrate retina. In cones the photopigment is in invaginations of the cell membrane of the outer segment. Cones are less sensitive to light than rods, but they provide vision with higher spatial and temporal acuity, and the combination of signals from cones with different pigments allows color vision.
	Rods (Retina) - One of the two photoreceptor cell types of the vertebrate retina. In rods the photopigment is in stacks of membranous disks separate from the outer cell membrane. Rods are more sensitive to light than cones, but rod mediated vision has less spatial and temporal resolution than cone vision.

Photoreceptors, Vertebrate Medical Definitions and Terms

CANADIAN MEDICAL GUIDE

Thank you for visiting Canadian Medical Guide .com

Wildlife On Video »

Canada's Great Outdoors
Tour Canadian Rockies »
Book Banff »
Book Jasper »
Maligne Lake Boat Cruise »
Gondola Banff »
Hike Jasper »
Jasper Columbia Icefield »