OPTOGRAM Meaning and
Definition
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Optogram is a term derived from the Greek words "optos" meaning "seen" and "gramma" meaning "letter." It refers to a visual record or image formed on the retina of an eye after death. When a person's eyes are exposed to intense light or radiation before or just after death, the dying cells of the retina respond by capturing the last image they perceived. This response occurs due to the photoreceptor cells in the retina called rods and cones, which play a crucial role in capturing light and forming visual perceptions.
Optograms gained significant attention within the field of forensic science as they were believed to hold potential in revealing crucial information about the last moments before death, such as the image of the perpetrator or the scene where the death occurred. However, the reliability and accuracy of optograms as a forensic tool have been subject to debate, as various factors like decay, time, and handling of the exposed eye can affect the clarity and preservation of the optogram.
While optograms have not been extensively utilized in contemporary forensic investigations due to their limitations, they have contributed to the scientific understanding of postmortem changes observed in the eyes and retina. Understanding optograms can provide insights into the biochemistry and physical properties of the retina, and may have applications in studying vision, ocular diseases, and the mechanisms of light perception.
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The retinal image formed by the decoloration of the visual purple.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for OPTOGRAM
Etymology of OPTOGRAM
The word optogram is derived from the Greek roots opto which means to see or to view and gram which means drawing or record. In combination, optogram can be translated as a record of sight or a drawing of what is seen.
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