Question

The photosensitive pigment present in the rod cells of retina is _____

Answer 1

Hint: Eyes are one of the most important organs in animals that enables them to receive and process visual details leading to complete vision. Their eye receives light from the surrounding environment, converting them into electrochemical signals which are then finally transmitted to the brain.

Complete answer:
Light from the surrounding at first falls on the lens of the eye which is then projected onto a light sensitive layer of cells that are located at the end of the eye known as the retina. The retina is known to consist of photosensitive cells called rod and cone cells having different pigments as a result of which they function at different conditions. The cone cells are photoreceptor cells consisting of the pigment iodopsin that are responsible for color vision and also function in bright light.

The rod cells are another kind of photoreceptor cell that comprises the pigment rhodopsin and function in lower light and do not play a major role in color vision. But it has been found that rod cells are more sensitive than cone cells. These light signals at the retina are then converted into neural signals and are carried to the brain via the optic nerve.

So the correct answer is Rhodopsin.

Note: Thus both the rod and cone cells play very important roles in enabling vision. Apart from these photoreceptor cells the eye consists of many other parts such as lens, iris, pupil, aqueous and vitreous humor, etc. each of which has significant roles in enabling vision.