Which part of the eye is responsible for color vision?

The part of the eye responsible for color vision is the cones. Cones are photoreceptor cells located primarily in the retina that function best in bright light and are crucial for detecting color. There are three types of cones, each sensitive to different wavelengths of light—short (blue), medium (green), and long (red). This trichromatic system allows humans to perceive a wide spectrum of colors through the combination of signals sent to the brain from these three types of cones.

Rods, on the other hand, are responsible for vision in low-light conditions and do not contribute to color perception; they are more sensitive to light but only detect shades of gray. The pupil and iris are parts of the eye that control light entry and focus, but they do not play a direct role in the perception of color. Understanding the distinct functions of these structures is important in grasping how the eye processes visual information, particularly in color vision.