Health Dictionary
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Photoreceptors
Introduction
Overview
Photoreceptor can refer to:
In anatomy/cell biology:
- Photoreceptor cell: a photosensitive cell, most commonly referring to a specialized type of neuron found in the retina of vertebrate eyes that is capable of phototransduction;
- Ocellus (invertebrate photoreceptor): a photoreceptor organ (“simple eye”) of invertebrates often comprised of a few sensory cells and a single lens;
- Eyespot apparatus (microbial photoreceptor): the photoreceptor organelle of a unicellular organism that allows for phototaxis.
In biochemistry:
- Photoreceptor protein: a chromoprotein that responds to being exposed to a certain wavelength of light by initiating a signal transduction cascade;
- Photopigment: an unstable pigment that undergoes a physical or chemical change upon absorbing a particular wavelength of light; also see:
- Photosynthetic pigment: molecules involved in transducing light into chemical energy.
In technology:
- Photodetector or photosensor: a device that detects light by capturing photons
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