Visual purple, also known as rhodopsin, is a pigment present in the retina of mammals that allows for night vision. The phonetic transcription of "visual purple" is /ˈvɪʒuəl ˈpɜːpl/. The word "visual" is pronounced with the "v" sound, followed by a long "i" sound and a short "u" sound. The word "purple" is pronounced with a short "u" sound followed by a long "e" sound. The correct spelling of this word is important for researchers and scientists who study vision and the visual system.
Visual purple, also known as rhodopsin, is a photosensitive pigment found in the rod cells of the retina. It plays a crucial role in visual perception, particularly in low-light conditions.
With its distinctive reddish-purple color, visual purple is composed of a protein called opsin and a light-absorbing molecule known as retinal. When light enters the eye, it is captured by the retinal molecule, causing a structural change within the opsin protein. This transformation triggers a complex series of chemical reactions that ultimately result in the generation of electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain as visual information.
Visual purple is essential for vision in dim or dark settings, as it allows the eyes to adjust and become more sensitive to available light. When exposed to light, visual purple becomes bleached, meaning it loses its ability to absorb light. However, it can regenerate its light-absorbing capacity in a process known as dark adaptation, where visual purple production is stimulated to restore its functionality.
In summary, visual purple is a pigment found in the rod cells of the retina, responsible for capturing and absorbing light to initiate the visual perception process. Its ability to adapt to changing light conditions enables humans and many animals to see in low-light environments by enhancing their sensitivity to available light sources.
Rhodopsin.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "visual purple" is derived from a combination of two words - "visual" and "purple":
1. Visual: The word "visual" is derived from the Latin word "visus", which means "sight" or "vision". The Latin word "visus" is the past participle of the verb "videre", meaning "to see". Over time, "visus" evolved into the Old French word "visuel", which then entered the English language as "visual" in the late 15th century. It refers to anything related to sight or vision.
2. Purple: The word "purple" originated from the Old English word "purpul", which came from the Latin word "purpura". The Latin term was adopted from the Greek word "porphura", which was used to describe a type of shellfish from which a crimson dye was extracted.