A cone cell has three main parts that are adapted for its function in color and detailed vision. The outer segment contains light-sensitive pigments (photopsins) arranged in stacked membranes, which increases surface area and allows cones to detect specific wavelengths of light for color vision. The inner segment is rich in mitochondria and protein-synthesizing organelles, providing the energy and materials needed for rapid phototransduction and cell maintenance. The synaptic terminal is adapted with specialized synapses and neurotransmitter vesicles that transmit signals efficiently to bipolar cells, allowing precise and high-resolution visual information to be sent to the brain.
