noun
- Specialized cells in the retina of the eye that respond to light and convert it into electrical signals for vision; includes rods and cones.
Usage: Usually used in plural form; Technical/scientific term; Commonly studied in biology and neuroscience
Examples
- Photoreceptors in the retina detect light and send signals to the brain.
- Rods and cones are the two main types of photoreceptors in the human eye.
- Damage to photoreceptors can result in vision loss or blindness.
- The density of photoreceptors varies across different regions of the retina.
- Scientists study photoreceptors to understand how the eye processes light.
- Photoreceptors are most concentrated in the fovea, the central part of the retina.