Cell layers of the retina
Photoreceptor layer (PL)
cone and rod photoreceptors
Outer Nuclear Layer (ONL)
photoreceptor cell bodies
horizontal cells
Outer Plexiform Layer (OPL)
synaptic connections between photoreceptors, horizontal cells and bipolar cells.
Inner Nuclear Layer (INL)
OFF-bipolar cells
ON-bipolar cells
Amacrine cells
Displaced ganglion cells
Inner Plexiform Layer (IPL)
sublamina a
synaptic connections between OFF-bipolar cells and ganglion and amacrine cells
sublamina b
synaptic interconnections between ON-bipolar cells, ganglion and amacrine cells.
Ganglion Cell Layer (GCL)
ganglion cell bodies
Axonal Layer
Processes running from the gangion cells to the optic nerve.
Functions of the retinal cell types
Photoreceptors
Cone photoreceptors respond to different wavelengths of light in the range of intensities from twilight to sunlight.
Rod photoreceptors detect and amplify light intensities in the range from twilight to starlight
Horizontal cells
Horizontal cells provide light contrast detection between neighbouring photoreceptors.
ON-bipolar cells.
Cone On-bipolar cells: Mediate positive signals of the presence of light directly to ganglion cells and indirectly via amacrine cells.
Rod On-bipolar cells: Mediate positive signals of the presence of light indirectly to ganglion cells via AII amacrine cells.
OFF-bipolar cells
Off-bipolar cells mediate negative signals of the dimunition of light from cones to ganglion cells.
Amacrine cells
There are over 20 types of amacrine cell that process aspects of light information such as motion, contrast and starlight.
Ganglion cells
Ganglion cells encode light information within action potentials to be processed and reconstructed by the visual cortex via the LGN.
For further information please see:
The Retina: by J.Dowling
Summary of retinal layers
{PRL ONL OPL INL a..IPL..b GCL}
