Final answer:
The retina, with its rods and cones, detects light and converts it to nerve impulses, which are then transmitted through the optic nerve to the brain for visual perception. The lens focuses light onto the retina, and the optic nerve conveys various details about the visual scene to the brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Function of the Retina and Optic Nerve in Vision
Within the human eye, the retina is key to visual perception. The retina contains specialized cells called photoreceptors, classified as rods and cones, which detect light and color. Light first enters the eye through the cornea and passes through the lens, which adjusts to focus light onto the retina. The retina converts this light into nerve impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain. The brain then processes these impulses, allowing us to see. The optic disc is where the optic nerve connects to the retina, and it creates a natural blind spot as it lacks photoreceptors; however, our visual system compensates for this, and typically this blind spot is not noticed in our visual field.
The optic nerve is composed of axons from retinal ganglion cells which are responsible for transmitting visual information to the brain. The optic nerve carries signals that inform about various aspects of the visual scene including form, movement, color, and detail. The processing of visual inputs further occurs in specialized brain regions, such as the superior colliculi for coordination of eye movements and the suprachiasmatic nucleus for regulating circadian rhythms.