Which of the following best describes the function of bipolar cells in the visual pathway?

The correct choice accurately reflects the role of bipolar cells within the visual pathway. Bipolar cells serve as intermediaries between the photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) in the retina and the ganglion cells, which are responsible for transmitting visual information to the brain. When light is detected by the rods and cones, they convert the light into electrical signals. These signals are then relayed to the bipolar cells, which process and transmit the information to the ganglion cells. This connection is essential for the integration of visual information before it leaves the retina.

While rods and cones play a crucial role in the initial detection of light, bipolar cells fulfill the important task of channeling the visual signals to the next level in the processing hierarchy. The other options describe functions that are not related to bipolar cells: converting light into neural impulses is primarily the job of photoreceptors, regulating light entry is a function of the eye’s structures like the iris, and handling peripheral vision is more associated with the distribution of rods across the retina rather than the specific function of bipolar cells.