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How many rods are in the human eye?

Published in Human Eye Anatomy 1 min read

The human eye contains approximately 120 million rods.

These rods, along with cones, are photoreceptor cells located in the retina, responsible for converting light into electrical signals that the brain interprets as vision.

Rods vs. Cones

Feature Rods Cones
Number ~120 million ~6 million
Light Sensitivity High; function in low light Low; require more light
Color Vision No; black and white vision Yes; responsible for color vision
Types One Three (red, green, blue)
Location Primarily in the periphery of retina Primarily in the fovea (center) of retina

As illustrated in the table, rods are more sensitive to light than cones, allowing us to see in dim conditions. According to the reference, cone cells come in three types, allowing us to see color: red-sensing (60%), green-sensing (30%) and blue.

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