What is the function of ganglion cells?

What is the function of ganglion cells?

• A. They connect photoreceptors to ganglion cells directly
• B. They provide metabolic support to photoreceptors
• C. They distribute photoreceptor output to bipolar cells
• D. They are the only cells capable of generating action potentials and form the optic nerve

Answer: (D)

Ganglion cells are the retina’s output neurons. They take the integrated signal from bipolar and amacrine cells and convert it into action potentials, whose axons bundle together to form the optic nerve that carries visual information to the brain. Photoreceptors respond to light with graded changes in potential and do not send spikes out of the eye; they pass their signal to bipolar cells, which relay it onward to ganglion cells. Other retinal cells provide support and modulation, but the distinctive role of ganglion cells is to generate action potentials and form the optic nerve, ensuring the visual information reaches central targets for processing.

Ganglion cells are the retina’s output neurons. They take the integrated signal from bipolar and amacrine cells and convert it into action potentials, whose axons bundle together to form the optic nerve that carries visual information to the brain. Photoreceptors respond to light with graded changes in potential and do not send spikes out of the eye; they pass their signal to bipolar cells, which relay it onward to ganglion cells. Other retinal cells provide support and modulation, but the distinctive role of ganglion cells is to generate action potentials and form the optic nerve, ensuring the visual information reaches central targets for processing.