Final answer:
Retinal ganglion cells (RGC) form the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the retina to the brain, creating a blind spot where they exit the eye due to the lack of photoreceptors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of retinal cell that forms the optic nerve is the retinal ganglion cell (RGC). The RGCs are responsible for receiving visual information from the photoreceptors, which consist of rods for dim light and cones for bright and color vision. After the initial processing by bipolar and amacrine cells, the retinal ganglion cells generate action potentials that travel down their axons to form the optic nerve. This nerve exits the eye at the optic disc, which is devoid of photoreceptors, resulting in a blind spot in the visual field.
The axons of the RGCs are significant in contributing to different visual pathways within the brain. The magnocellular pathway carries information about form, movement, depth, and brightness variations, while the parvocellular pathway transmits details about color and fine detail. This intricate system allows the visual information to be effectively relayed to the brain for higher processing.