Final answer:
The name of the process that converts all-trans retinal back to 11-cis retinal is the visual cycle, which is essential for the continuous function of vision.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process that re-isomerizes the all-trans retinal back to the 11-cis form is known as the visual cycle. The visual cycle is a series of enzymatic reactions that occur in the retina, ensuring the continuous regeneration and activation of photoreceptors, which are essential for vision. When a photon interacts with retinal, a photoisomerization occurs, changing its structure from 11-cis-retinal to all-trans retinal. To resume its role in vision, the all-trans retinal must be converted back to 11-cis-retinal. This conversion involves reduction to trans retinol, isomerization to cis-retinol, and oxidation back to cis-retinal. The retinal then recombines with opsin to reform rhodopsin, thus completing the cycle and allowing the opsin to respond to light energy again.