Retinal Photoreceptor Cell

Retinal photoreceptor cells are specialized neuroepithelial cells located in the retina, responsible for detecting light and converting it into electrical signals that the brain interprets as vision. There are two main types: rods and cones. Rods are highly sensitive to low light levels (scotopic vision), enable night vision, but do not detect color. Cones function best under bright light (photopic vision), responsible for high-acuity central vision and color discrimination. The key molecular feature is opsin proteins (rhodopsin in rods; photopsins/iodopsins in cones) bound to a chromophore called retinal. Defects or degeneration in photoreceptor structure/function lead directly to various forms of blindness or visual impairment.

Other names

Rod cellCone cellPhotoreceptor