rod cell
- noun
- /rɒd sɛl/
- Specialized
:
célula de bastón
- The function of rod cells in our eyes is crucial for vision when it is dark outside.
Examples
-
At the expense of fine spatial resolution, many rod cells are connected in parallel to a single neuron.
Academic text (1995) -
Apparently, one of the key factors in human night vision is a chemical in the rod cells of the eye called rhodopsin.
-
Structure of a rod cell in the retina.
Blog text (8) -
One problem with those sensitive rod cells is they mostly help with peripheral vision.
-
Microscope image of the fiber taper and a suction micropipette with the constrained rod cell.
Blog text (8) -
The results indicate differences in average responses of rod cells to coherent and pseudothermal light of the same intensity, and also differences in signal-to-noise ratios and second-order intensity correlation functions.
Blog text (8) -
In low-light conditions, rod cells enable us to see clearly at night.
-
Adaptation to darkness is primarily due to the presence of rod cells in the retina.
Synonyms
24
7.5
A light sensitive cell in the eye that helps you see in dim light
A cell at the back of the eye that helps you see in very low light
How Sensitive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently composed from 'rod' (a photoreceptor sensitive to low light) + 'cell' (a microscopic living unit), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer this is a type of retinal cell for dim-light vision. This noun-noun compositional pattern is common and cross-linguistically recognizable, so no prior exposure is required.
Etymology
Rod cell: The name rod cell comes from the cell's long, thin shape, because it looks like a tiny rod or stick. That's why the name is used for the eye cells that are very sensitive in 'low light' and help us see at night.