MCAT Behavioral Sciences Question 184: Answer and Explanation
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Question: 184
4. In the human visual pathway, what cell type comprises the bundle of fibers called the optic nerve?
- A. Photoreceptors
- B. Bipolar cells
- C. Ganglion cells
- D. Fovea cells
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
The axons of ganglion cells in the retina make up the optic nerve, which carries visual information to the brain (choice C is correct). Photoreceptors are specialized cells in the retina that transduce light energy into nerve cell activity; they synapse with bipolar cells, which synapse with ganglion cells, but neither are part of the optic nerve (choices A and B are wrong). The fovea is the area of highest visual acuity and contains a high concentration of cones, which are a type of photoreceptor, and do not comprise the optic nerve (choice D is wrong).