Cones have higher acuity than rods because
A) cones respond more to dim light.
B) there are three types of cones.
C) there is little convergence in the cone pathways within the retina.
D) there are more cones than rods.
E) the photopigment in the cones breaks down more rapidly than the photopigment in rods.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cones are responsible for high acuity vision because there is little convergence in the cone pathways within the retina. This means that each cone in the retina has its own direct pathway to the visual cortex and there is minimal blending of signals. Rods, on the other hand, have more convergence in their pathways, which makes them more sensitive to dim light but results in lower acuity vision. The number of cones and rods and the speed of photopigment breakdown are not the primary factors contributing to acuity differences between the two types of photoreceptor cells. The fact that there are three types of cones contributes to color vision but not directly to acuity.

Cones Have Higher Acuity Than Rods Because