PHGY 210 Lecture Notes - Inner Plexiform Layer, Membrane Potential, Critical Role
31 Jan 2013
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Document Summary
The most direct pathway for visual information to exit the eye is: photoreceptors bipolar cells ganglion cells. In response to light, ganglion cells fire action potentials which propagate down the optic nerve to the rest of the brain. Retinal process is influenced by two additional cell types: Horizontal cells: receives input from the photoreceptors and project neurites laterally to influence surrounding bipolar cells and photoreceptors. Amacrine cells: receive inputs from bipolar cells and project laterally to influence surrounding ganglion cell, bipolar cells and other amacrine cells. There are two important points to remember: only light-sensitive cells in the retina are the photoreceptors. All other cells are influence by light only via direct and indirect synaptic interactions with the photoreceptors: the ganglion cells are the only source of output from the retina. Laminar organization means that the cells are organized in layers (see fig.
