The three groups of cells in the retina that provide a direct pathway for impulses triggered at the photoreceptors to the optic nerve are:
Bipolar neurons
Photoreceptors
Ganglion cells
Explanation for each option:
Amacrine cells: These cells are involved in the processing and integration of visual information within the retina, but they do not form a direct pathway from photoreceptors to the optic nerve. They primarily interact with bipolar and ganglion cells.
Bipolar neurons: These cells act as intermediaries between photoreceptors and ganglion cells. They receive signals from photoreceptors and transmit them to ganglion cells, forming a direct part of the pathway to the optic nerve.
Horizontal cells: These cells are involved in lateral inhibition and help integrate and regulate input from multiple photoreceptors, but they do not form a direct pathway to the optic nerve.
Photoreceptors: These are the cells that initially detect light and convert it into electrical signals. They are the starting point of the direct pathway to the optic nerve.
Ganglion cells: These cells receive input from bipolar neurons and their axons form the optic nerve, which carries visual information to the brain. They are a crucial part of the direct pathway.
In summary, the direct pathway from photoreceptors to the optic nerve involves photoreceptors, bipolar neurons, and ganglion cells.