Which sensory organ is characterized by the presence of photoreceptor cells called rods and cones?

A Ear

B Skin

C Eye

D Tongue

Solution

Correct Answer: Option C

The correct answer is Eye.

- The eye is the sensory organ responsible for vision. It contains specialized cells known as photoreceptor cells, which are crucial for detecting light and converting it into neural signals.
- These photoreceptors are categorized into two main types: rods and cones.

- Rods are responsible for vision in low light conditions (night vision) and do not detect color.
- Cones, on the other hand, function in bright light and are responsible for detecting color and fine detail.

- Neither the ear (responsible for hearing and balance), skin (responsible for touch, temperature, and pain), nor the tongue (responsible for taste) contains photoreceptor cells.
- Therefore, the presence of rods and cones uniquely characterizes the eye.

Reference: Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology, 13th Edition, Chapter 41 – The Visual Mechanism

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