Retinal Transduction

How can
eye see?
 Lesson Outcomes
• Know what is meant by transduction in the
eye (Grade E)
• Understand how the microscopic structure
of the retina is adapted to convert light
into electrical energy (Grade C)
• Explain why differences in sensitivity and
visual acuity are due to the differences in
the distribution of rods & cones AND the
connections they make in the optic nerve
(Grade A)
 Retinal Transduction
• The eye is a transducer
• What does this mean?
 Transduction
• The eye is a transducer
• What does this mean?
Converts light into a pattern of nerve impulses
• Transduction takes place in the retina
by a layer of photosensitive cells at the
back of the eye
• Rods and cones attached to nerves
 Lesson Outcomes
• Know what is meant by transduction in
the eye (Grade E)
 Structure of the eye
Task:
Draw, label
and describe
the functions
of each part
of the eye

Pg 252 biology
student book 2
 Secondary Receptors
• Rods and cones are secondary receptors –
modified epithelial cells detecting changes in
stimulus THEN passing information on to a
separate neurone, which transmits the
information as nerve impulses.
• Rods and cones function as part of a sense
organ (eye)
• Sense organs are complex stimulus gathering
structures consisting of grouped receptors.
 Structure of the Retina

Task:
Describe the function
and structure of the
retina (it has ….layers
consisting of …) and
explain why it’s
arrangement is often
referred to as being
back to front
Pg 253 student book 2
Electron Micrograph of Retina
Q. Why is it
important to
have a high
number of
mitochondria in
the cone cells?
 Convergence
• Up to 150 rods may connect via synapses to one
neurone
• This is known as CONVERGENCE enabling a
group of rod cells to function as a photosensitive
unit
• Gathering light from a relatively WIDE area and
combining its stimulatory effects
• Convergence allows rods to provide information
at relatively low levels of light
• But this is at the expense of low VISUAL
ACUITY (ability to distinguish fine detail)
 Check!
• Write down the difference
between visual acuity and nerve
convergence.
 Convergence
• Thus, in dim light when cones are not functioning,
the rods provide information for an image that is
NOT well defined and lacks colour
• Rods are the only photosensitive cell on the
outside of the retina
• ‘Seen out of the corner of the eye’ lacks detail
• However rods are very sensitive to changes in
light intensity caused by something moving
• Vital in nature for spotting danger
or predators!
 Transduction by Rods
• A rod cell has an outer segment of up to 1000
vesicles, each containing a photosensitive
pigment rhodopsin
• Made up of protein opsin and retinal (a
derivative of vitamin A)
• Light causes retinal to change shape so retinal
and opsin break apart (this is called bleaching)
• Triggers a change in the permeability of the
rods plasma membrane, contributing to the
formation of the generator potential in the
sensory neurone.
 Transduction by Rods
• The generator potential results from the
combined effects of all rods serving a
particular neurone
• Once the critical threshold level is passed,
an action potential is transmitted.
• This impulse passes along the sensory
neurone, then optic nerve fibres to the brain
• The pattern of nerve impulses is interpreted
in the brain as patterns of light and dark.
 Cones
• Cones do NOT function in groups like
rods
• One single cone mostly has its own
sensory neurone
• If light of sufficiently high intensity
falls on two separate cone cells from
two sources, two separate impulses
are transmitted along two sensory
neurones and brain receives two
separate images.
• Cones provide much more detailed
sensory information than rods, but
can only function in high light
intensity as there is very little
convergence.
 Cones
• Allow us to see colour and fine detail
• Three types of cones each containing a
different form of a pigment iodopsin which
breaks down ONLY in bright light
• The three pigments are together sensitive
over the visible spectrum, but one most
sensitive to blue, red or green light
• According to the TRICHROMATIC THEORY,
different colours are perceived by mixing the
information from the three types of cone
cells.
 Lesson Outcomes
• Know what is meant by transduction in
the eye (Grade E)
• Understand how the microscopic
structure of the retina is adapted to
convert light into electrical energy
(Grade C)
 Fovea and blind spot
• Over most of the retina, the rods and cones are
buried under a layer of blood vessels and nerve
fibres leading to the optic nerve
• However, the fovea, a small depression in the
retina opposite the lens, consists of only cones
• No capillaries here
• Light falling on the fovea produces a clear, well
defined colourful image
• When someone wants to examine an object in
fine detail, the eye automatically adjusts so that
light from the object falls on the fovea.
Back of
left eye
TASK: Can you interpret this diagram?
TASK: Explain the differences in colours
that a person can perceive.
Colour blindness?
Can you explain the problem?
 Adaptation

• Eyes adapt to different levels of brightness by varying

their sensitivity
• A prolonged period in a darkened room (about half an
hour) results in photosensitive pigments being formed
faster than they are being broken down, so increasing
sensitivity to light. Known as DARK ADAPTATION.
• A prolonged period in bright light, results in
photosensitive pigments in rods and cones being broken
down quickly, reducing sensitivity to light; LIGHT
ADAPTATION.
 Task
Using your student book and internet resources, complete
the checkpoint questions
 Lesson Outcomes
• Know what is meant by transduction in the
eye (Grade E)
• Understand how the microscopic structure
of the retina is adapted to convert light
into electrical energy (Grade C)
• Explain why differences in sensitivity and
visual acuity are due to the differences in
the distribution of rods & cones AND the
connections they make in the optic nerve
(Grade A)