Final answer:
The retina is the part of the eye responsible for transforming light patterns into images by transducing light into nervous impulses, allowing the brain to interpret the visual information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The retina forms the rear multilayer part of the eye and its function is to transform patterns of light into images that the brain can use. The retina, located within the neural tunic, contains the photoreceptive cells which transduce light into nervous impulses.
Light first passes through several structures before reaching the retina: it enters through the cornea, proceeds through the pupil, is focused by the lens, and then reaches the retina where the sensing and image formation occurs. The retina has a dense concentration of receptors in the area known as the fovea, and a blind spot where the optic nerve connects.
To function properly, the retina relies on the choroid, part of the vascular tunic, for blood supply, and on the ciliary body to adjust the lens for proper focus. The neural tunic of the eye, especially the retina, is integral for vision, completing the process of photoreception and sending the visual information to the brain through the optic nerve.