Rhodopsin
Rhodopsin
Rhodopsin (pronounced: roh-DOP-sin), also known as visual purple, is a light-sensitive receptor protein involved in visual phototransduction. It is named after the Greek words "rhodon" for rose, due to its pinkish color, and "opsis" for sight.
Etymology
The term Rhodopsin is derived from the Greek words "rhodon", meaning rose, and "opsis", meaning sight or vision. This is due to the pinkish color of the protein when it is exposed to light.
Function
Rhodopsin is found in the rod cells of the retina and is extremely sensitive to light, allowing for vision in low-light conditions. When rhodopsin is exposed to light, it undergoes a structural change, triggering a series of events that result in an electrical signal being sent to the brain.
Related Terms
- Photoreceptor cell: A type of neuron in the retina that is responsible for converting light into signals that can be processed by the brain.
- Retina: The light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye.
- Rod cell: A type of photoreceptor in the retina of the eye that is highly sensitive to light.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Rhodopsin
- Wikipedia's article - Rhodopsin
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