photoreceptor cells

noun

Meaning

Specialized sensory neurons in the retina that convert light energy into electrical signals for the brain to process as vision.

Examples

  • The human retina contains two main types of photoreceptor cells known as rods and cones.
  • Damage to photoreceptor cells is the primary cause of vision loss in conditions like macular degeneration.

Synonyms: rods and cones, visual receptors, sensory neurons