Cones

Cones (Eye)

Cones (/koʊnz/), are one of the two types of photoreceptor cells that are in the retina of the eye which are responsible for color vision. They are also one of the three types of cone-shaped cells in the eye, the others being rods and bipolar cells.

Etymology

The term "cone" is derived from the cone-like shape of the cells. The word itself comes from the Greek word "kōnos", meaning "pine cone".

Function

Cones are less sensitive to light than the rods in the retina and are more used to perceive color and detail in conditions of high illumination. There are three types of cones that differ in the wavelengths to which they respond, allowing color vision.

Types of Cones

There are three types of cones: S-cones, M-cones, and L-cones. Each type is sensitive to different wavelengths of light, which correspond to short-wavelength (blue), medium-wavelength (green), and long-wavelength (red) light.

S-cones

S-cones, or short-wavelength cones, are sensitive to blue light. They are less common than the other two types of cones, making up about 10% of the total cone population in the human retina.

M-cones

M-cones, or medium-wavelength cones, are sensitive to green light. They make up about 50% of the total cone population in the human retina.

L-cones

L-cones, or long-wavelength cones, are sensitive to red light. They make up about 40% of the total cone population in the human retina.

Related Terms

• Photoreceptor cell
• Retina
• Rods
• Bipolar cells
• Color vision
• Wavelength

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Cones
• Wikipedia's article - Cones

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