photoreceptor

[foh-toh-ri-sep-ter]

noun

Physiology, Biology.

1. a receptor stimulated by light.

photoreceptor

/ ˌfəʊtəʊrɪˈsɛptə /

noun

1. zoology physiol a light-sensitive cell or organ that conveys impulses through the sensory neuron connected to it

photoreceptor

1. A specialized structure or cell that is sensitive to light. In vertebrate animals, the photoreceptors are the rods and cones of the eye's retina.

2. See Note at circadian rhythm

3. An electronic device that converts light energy into electrical signals. Photoreceptors are used in photocopy and facsimile machines, cameras, and solar cells.

Word History and Origins

Origin of photoreceptor¹

First recorded in 1905–10; photo- + receptor

Example Sentences

Visual pigments are the molecules in the photoreceptor cells of the retina that are responsible for detecting light and then sending signals to the brain to perceive that light.

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In the fruit fly, Ray's team found exposure to diacetyl volatiles substantially slowed degeneration of photoreceptor cells linked to Huntington's disease.

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One particular insight from this work was that multiple systemic health conditions including poor cardiac, metabolic, pulmonary, and renal function are linked to thinning of the photoreceptor segment of the retina, though further research would be needed to confirm causality.

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They previously showed they could recover missing cone function by reintroducing a copy of the normal gene in photoreceptor cells.

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That makes this disease a promising one in which to study photoreceptor cell replacement as a treatment in the future.

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