Rod cell

Rod cell
Cross section of the retina. Rods are visible at far right.
Details
LocationRetina
ShapeRod-shaped
FunctionLow-light photoreceptor
NeurotransmitterGlutamate
Presynaptic connectionsNone
Postsynaptic connectionsBipolar cells and horizontal cells
Identifiers
MeSHD017948
NeuroLex IDnlx_cell_100212
THH3.11.08.3.01030
FMA67747
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

Rod cells are photoreceptor cells in the retina of the eye that can function in lower light better than the other type of visual photoreceptor, cone cells. Rods are usually found concentrated at the outer edges of the retina and are used in peripheral vision. On average, there are approximately 92 million rod cells (vs ~6 million cones) in the human retina.[1] Rod cells are more sensitive than cone cells and are almost entirely responsible for night vision. However, rods have little role in color vision, which is the main reason why colors are much less apparent in dim light.

  1. ^ Curcio, C. A.; Sloan, K. R.; et al. (1990). "Human photoreceptor topography". The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 292 (4): 497–523. doi:10.1002/cne.902920402. PMID 2324310. S2CID 24649779.