Question

Which of the following statements is true about the fovea? a. The fovea contains both rods and cones b. The fovea is the region of the retina where ganglion cell axons exit the eye. c. The fovea is the region of the retina responsible for the highest acuity vision in humans and primates. d. The location of the fovea on the retina is not a fixed anatomical feature but varies with focus. e. At the center of the fovea, light must first pass through ganglion, amacrine, horizontal and bipolar cells before reaching photoreceptor outer segments.

Short answer

Answer: The fovea is the region of the retina responsible for the highest acuity vision in humans and primates due to its high concentration of cones which are specialized for color and detail.

Step-by-step solution

Evaluate Statement A

The fovea contains both rods and cones: This statement is false. The fovea contains a high concentration of cones for high visual acuity, but there are no rods in the fovea.

Evaluate Statement B

The fovea is the region of the retina where ganglion cell axons exit the eye: This statement is false. The region where ganglion cell axons exit the eye is the optic disc, also known as the "blind spot."

Evaluate Statement C

The fovea is the region of the retina responsible for the highest acuity vision in humans and primates: This statement is true. The presence of a high concentration of cones in the fovea is responsible for the highest acuity, or most detailed, vision in humans and primates.

Evaluate Statement D

The location of the fovea on the retina is not a fixed anatomical feature but varies with focus: This statement is false. The fovea is in a fixed location near the center of the retina and does not vary with focus.

Evaluate Statement E

At the center of the fovea, light must first pass through ganglion, amacrine, horizontal, and bipolar cells before reaching photoreceptor outer segments: This statement is false. In the fovea, the other cell layers are pushed aside, allowing light to directly stimulate the cone photoreceptors, allowing for higher visual acuity. The correct answer is statement C: The fovea is the region of the retina responsible for the highest acuity vision in humans and primates.