Bipolar cells
Bipolar cells
Bipolar cells (/baɪˈpoʊlər sɛlz/) are a type of neuron which specializes in transmitting signals from photoreceptor cells (the cells in the retina of the eye that detect light) to ganglion cells. They are part of the visual system and play a crucial role in the processing of visual information.
Etymology
The term "bipolar" is derived from the Greek words "bi" meaning "two" and "polus" meaning "axis". This refers to the structure of these cells, which have two distinct ends or poles - the dendritic and axonal poles.
Function
Bipolar cells receive signals from photoreceptor cells, which respond to light entering the eye. These signals are then passed on to ganglion cells, which send the information to the brain for interpretation. There are two types of bipolar cells - ON and OFF cells, which respond to increases and decreases in light intensity respectively.
Related Terms
- Neuron: A nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system.
- Photoreceptor cells: Specialized type of neuron found in the retina that is capable of phototransduction.
- Ganglion cells: Type of neuron located near the inner surface of the retina and are the final output neurons of the vertebrate retina.
- Visual system: Part of the central nervous system which enables organisms to process visual detail.
- Retina: Thin layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye on the inside and is responsible for vision.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Bipolar cells
- Wikipedia's article - Bipolar cells
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski