Final answer:
Bipolar cells are the specific cells in the retina that connect photoreceptors to ganglion cells, and the optic nerve is composed of the axons from the retinal ganglion cells, not bipolar, amacrine, or photoreceptor cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cells that connect photoreceptors to ganglion cells in the retina are bipolar cells. Bipolar cells relay the signals from the photoreceptors, which are either rods or cones, to the ganglion cells. In turn, the axons of the ganglion cells form the optic nerve which carries visual information to the brain. In addition to bipolar cells, amacrine cells also play a role in visual processing before the action potential is produced by ganglion cells, but they do not directly connect photoreceptors to ganglion cells.
The optic nerve is made up of the axons from the retinal ganglion cells, and not from bipolar cells, amacrine cells, or photoreceptors. The retina's design, which includes these various cell types and connections, allows for the initial processing and encoding of visual signals before they reach the brain.