Which statement lists the six cellular layers of the retina?

Which statement lists the six cellular layers of the retina?

• A. Corneal epithelium, stroma, Descemet's membrane, endothelium, lens, iris
• B. Photoreceptor layer, outer nuclear layer, outer plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer, inner plexiform layer, ganglion cell layer
• C. Rods, cones, bipolar cells, ganglion cells, horizontal cells, amacrine cells
• D. Sclera, choroid, retina, optic nerve, lens, vitreous

Answer: (B)

The retinal architecture is a vertical stack of six neural layers that reflect the flow of visual information from light detection to signal transmission to the brain. Light is detected in the photoreceptor layer by rods and cones; the cell bodies of these photoreceptors sit in the outer nuclear layer. Synapses between photoreceptors and the next cells occur in the outer plexiform layer, where signaling begins to be processed by bipolar and horizontal cells. The inner nuclear layer houses the cell bodies of bipolar, horizontal, and amacrine cells, which continue to shape the signal. In the inner plexiform layer, bipolar and amacrine cells synapse with ganglion cells (and with each other), forming the second major processing stage. Finally, the ganglion cell layer contains the cell bodies of retinal ganglion cells, whose axons form the optic nerve to convey the processed signal to the brain. This sequence—photoreceptor layer, outer nuclear layer, outer plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer, inner plexiform layer, and ganglion cell layer—accurately lists the six principal neural layers of the retina.

The retinal architecture is a vertical stack of six neural layers that reflect the flow of visual information from light detection to signal transmission to the brain. Light is detected in the photoreceptor layer by rods and cones; the cell bodies of these photoreceptors sit in the outer nuclear layer. Synapses between photoreceptors and the next cells occur in the outer plexiform layer, where signaling begins to be processed by bipolar and horizontal cells. The inner nuclear layer houses the cell bodies of bipolar, horizontal, and amacrine cells, which continue to shape the signal. In the inner plexiform layer, bipolar and amacrine cells synapse with ganglion cells (and with each other), forming the second major processing stage. Finally, the ganglion cell layer contains the cell bodies of retinal ganglion cells, whose axons form the optic nerve to convey the processed signal to the brain. This sequence—photoreceptor layer, outer nuclear layer, outer plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer, inner plexiform layer, and ganglion cell layer—accurately lists the six principal neural layers of the retina.