Question

Compare the characteristics and functions of the rods and the cones of the eye.

Answer 1

There are two types of photoreceptors in the human retina, rods and cones.

Rods are responsible for vision at low light levels (scotopic vision).

They do not mediate color vision, and have a low spatial acuity.

Cones are active at higher light levels (photopics vision) and are capable of color vision while being responsible for high spatial acuity.

There are 3 types of cones referred to as short-wavelength, the middle-wavelength and the long-wavelength cones or S-cone, M-cones, and L-cones for short.

The light levels where both are operational are calle mesopic.

Although generally similar in structure, rods and cones differ in their size and shape, as well as in the arrangement of the membranous disks in their outer segments.