What are Rods?
Rods are one of the two types of photoreceptor cells found in the human retina. These cells are long and slender, resembling a cylindrical shape, hence the name “rods.” Rods are numerous, accounting for approximately 120 million of the total 125 million photoreceptor cells in the retina. They are mostly concentrated in the peripheral retina, which is the outer part of the retina. This is why our night vision is more effective when we look slightly to the side of an object in dim light, rather than directly at it. They contain a purple-coloured pigment known as Rhodopsin or Visual Purple.
Function of Rods
- Rods are primarily responsible for our vision in low-light conditions, such as at night or in dim- light.
- Their high sensitivity to light allows them to detect even faint sources of illumination.
- Rods do not play a significant role in colour vision and cannot differentiate between different colours. Instead, they provide black-and-white vision.
Also Read: Diagram of Eye
Difference Between Rods and Cones
The difference between rods and cons lies in their functions and distribution within the retina. The rods and cones are two different kinds of photoreceptors present in the retina. Rods are more sensitive to low light and are primarily responsible for night vision, while cones are responsible for colour vision and function best in bright light conditions. In this article, we will cover the major differences between rods and cons and their similarities.
Table of Content
- What are Rods?
- What are Cones?
- Difference Between Rods and Cones
- Similarities between rods and cones
- Conclusion – Difference Between Rods and Cones
- Difference Between Related Links
- FAQs on Difference Between Rods and Cones