Which retinal layer contains the nuclei of photoreceptors?

Which retinal layer contains the nuclei of photoreceptors?

• A. Outer Plexiform Layer
• B. Outer Nuclear Layer
• C. Inner Nuclear Layer
• D. Retinal Pigment Epithelium

Answer: (B)

Photoreceptor cell bodies (the nuclei of rods and cones) sit in the outer nuclear layer. This layer specifically houses the cell bodies of the photoreceptors, while the outer plexiform layer above it contains the synapses between photoreceptors and bipolar/horizontal cells, and the inner nuclear layer contains the nuclei of other retinal neurons like bipolar and amacrine cells. The retinal pigment epithelium lies outside the neural retina and supports photoreceptors but does not contain their nuclei. So, the layer with the photoreceptor nuclei is the outer nuclear layer.

Photoreceptor cell bodies (the nuclei of rods and cones) sit in the outer nuclear layer. This layer specifically houses the cell bodies of the photoreceptors, while the outer plexiform layer above it contains the synapses between photoreceptors and bipolar/horizontal cells, and the inner nuclear layer contains the nuclei of other retinal neurons like bipolar and amacrine cells. The retinal pigment epithelium lies outside the neural retina and supports photoreceptors but does not contain their nuclei. So, the layer with the photoreceptor nuclei is the outer nuclear layer.