Final answer:
The light-absorbing cells in the retina are known as photoreceptors, comprising rods and cones. Rods are adept at detecting dim light, primarily for nighttime and peripheral vision, while cones are responsible for color vision and high-resolution vision in brighter light.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cells that absorb light and are located in the retina are photoreceptors, specifically the rods and cones. The retina is the layer of photoreceptor cells at the back of the eye, which includes rods that are particularly sensitive to dim light, and cones that are sensitive to light of different colors.
Rods are designed to function in low light conditions, allowing us to see in the dark. They are highly sensitive to light intensity but do not differentiate colors. Cones, on the other hand, respond to brighter light and enable our color vision. There are three types of cones, each responding to different wavelengths of light, making them the source of our ability to see color.
While rods are abundant in the peripheral parts of the retina and excel in peripheral and nighttime vision, cones are concentrated in the central part of the retina, especially the fovea, facilitating high acuity, color vision mainly in daylight. The retina's anatomy ensures that when light enters the eye, it is first modified by layers such as the cornea and lens before reaching the photoreceptors, where the transduction of light to nervous impulses takes place.