METAPOLAR CELLS Meaning and
Definition
-
Metapolar cells, also known as border cells or granule cells, refer to a group of specialized neural cells found in the retina of the eye. These cells play a crucial role in the visual processing pathway and are responsible for specific aspects of vision.
Metapolar cells are typically located in the outermost layer of the retina, called the outer nuclear layer. They receive input from the bipolar cells, which transmit signals from the photoreceptor cells, and they project their output to the ganglion cells, which carry visual information to the brain for further processing.
One defining characteristic of metapolar cells is their unique morphology. They possess a small, spherical cell body with numerous dendritic branches that extend horizontally. The dendrites form a dense plexus within the outer plexiform layer of the retina, allowing them to receive synaptic inputs from other retinal cells.
Functionally, metapolar cells are involved in edge detection and contrast enhancement. They exhibit a high sensitivity to changes in luminance, enabling them to respond to abrupt changes in light intensity. By comparing the input signals from bipolar cells, metapolar cells contribute to the perception of borders, edges, and contours within visual stimuli. This involvement in visual processing helps to facilitate object recognition and depth perception.
Overall, metapolar cells are essential components of the visual system and contribute to the interpretation of visual information by detecting edges and enhancing contrast, ultimately aiding in forming a coherent visual representation of the external environment.
Common Misspellings for METAPOLAR CELLS
- metapolar celds
- metapolar celhs
- metapolar celns
- metapolar celms
- metapolar cell3
- metapolar cellc
- metapolar cellq
- metapolar cellr
- metapolarsells
- m etapolar cells
- me tapolar cells
- met apolar cells
- metapo lar cells
- metapol ar cells
- metapola r cells
- metapolar c ells
- metapolar ce lls
- metapolar cel ls
- metapolar cell s
Etymology of METAPOLAR CELLS
The word "metapolar" is derived from combining the prefix "meta-" meaning "beyond" or "transcending" and the term "polar cells". The term "polar" in this context refers to the polar regions of the body, such as the poles of the eyeball. Therefore, "metapolar cells" can be understood as cells that go beyond or transcend the polar regions.
