ECTORETINA Meaning and
Definition
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Ectoretina refers to the outer layer of photosensitive cells in the retina of the eye, primarily responsible for detecting and converting light into electrical signals that can be further processed by the neurons in the inner layers of the retina. It is a crucial component of the visual system, assisting in the formation of visual perception and ultimately allowing humans and many other animal species to see.
The ectoretina is comprised of specialized cells called photoreceptors, namely rods and cones, which differ in their optical properties and sensitivity to light. Rods are more abundant and are highly sensitive to low levels of light, enabling vision in dimly lit environments, but they are less effective at distinguishing colors. Cones, on the other hand, are responsible for color vision and are relatively more responsive to bright light conditions.
The ectoretina is further supported by several other cell types, including bipolar cells, horizontal cells, and amacrine cells, which help to process and transmit visual information to the ganglion cells. Ganglion cells, located in the innermost layer of the retina, gather and transmit the electrical signals generated by the photoreceptors to the brain via the optic nerve.
In summary, the ectoretina plays a critical role in the initial stages of vision, converting incoming light into electrical signals that are subsequently processed and transmitted to the brain for visual perception.
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The outer layer of the retina.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ECTORETINA
- wctoretina
- sctoretina
- dctoretina
- rctoretina
- 4ctoretina
- 3ctoretina
- extoretina
- evtoretina
- eftoretina
- edtoretina
- ecroretina
- ecforetina
- ecgoretina
- ecyoretina
- ec6oretina
- ec5oretina
- ectiretina
- ectkretina
- ectlretina
- ectpretina
Etymology of ECTORETINA
The term "ectoretina" is a compound word formed from the combination of two Greek roots: "ecto-" and "retina".
The prefix "ecto-" (also spelled "ecto") means "outer" or "external" in Greek. It is derived from the Greek word "ektos", which translates to "outside".
The word "retina" refers to the sensory tissue at the back of the eye responsible for receiving and processing visual information. This term comes from the Latin word "retina", which means "net" or "netlike structure".
Therefore, "ectoretina" can be understood as the outer part or outer layer of the retina. It is often used to refer to the pigmented layer of cells outside the photoreceptor layer in the retina of certain animals, such as reptiles and birds, which have a unique retinal structure compared to mammals.
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