Wiktionary
n. (context biology English) A specialized neuron able to detect, and react to light
Wikipedia
Photoreceptor can refer to:
In anatomy/cell biology:
- Photoreceptor cell, a photosensitive cell in the retina of vertebrate eyes
- Simple eye in invertebrates (Ocellus), photoreceptor organ ("simple eye") of invertebrates often composed of a few sensory cells and a single lens
- Eyespot apparatus (microbial photoreceptor), the photoreceptor organelle of a unicellular organism that allows for phototaxis
In biochemistry:
- Photoreceptor protein, a chromoprotein that responds to being exposed to a certain wavelength of light by initiating a signal transduction cascade
-
Photopigment, an unstable pigment that undergoes a physical or chemical change upon absorbing a particular wavelength of light; also see
- Photosynthetic pigment, molecules involved in transducing light into chemical energy
In technology:
- Photodetector or photosensor, a device that detects light by capturing photons
- Electronic photoreceptor, a sensor that converts solar energy into electric energy
Usage examples of "photoreceptor".
Spinning crazily on an invisible axis, the beetle listed to the left, then clattered to the floor, the red light of its photoreceptor eye fading.
Its cyclopean photoreceptor eye spotted Yoda at once, and it swiveled to face him.
The photoreceptor seemed to dim, while beside it a bleary human eye focused on me.
The more sensitive a photoreceptor can be made the better, and one method of increasing the sensitivity is to increase the amount of light falling upon the visual pigment.
The droid adjusted his photoreceptors to their sharpest focus and scanned the wall.
With a whirring of strained servomotors, domed, rectangular, and humaniform heads swiveled, audio sensors perked up, and countless photoreceptors came into sharp focus.
C-3PO tightened the focus of his photoreceptors on Master Han, who lowered his head in abject grief, as Jaina stroked his shoulders.
Had he the necessary parts, his brightly illuminated photoreceptors might have blinked.
But I have some news for those gloomy sensors of yours: No matter what you may choose to parade before my photoreceptors, you will never again hear me express concerns about deactivation.
They had replaced his recessed photoreceptors with extras from the repair kit Lando had included in the equipment pod, but several thud bugs had penetrated deep inside the skull casing, smashing circuit boards and detection mediums beyond all hope of repair.
Fearful that the glow of his photoreceptors would betray his presence, C-3PO stepped to one side of the evacuation bay hatch and continued to peer through the viewport at an oblique angle.
The photoreceptors of your eye are part of the retina, a layer of cells at the back of your eyeball.
The photoreceptors detect light and the patterns that it forms on the retina, then sends this information to your brain via the optic nerve.
During the first five minutes that you are in the dark, all the photoreceptors in your eye-- both rods and cones -- are gradually becoming more sensitive to light.
The photoreceptors whirred audibly in their sockets, scanning left to right.