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Light Wavelength Absorption

Meaning

Light Wavelength Absorption is the precise physiological process by which specific photoreceptor molecules located in the retina and, to a lesser extent, the skin, selectively capture energy from distinct bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. This selective capture initiates a phototransduction cascade, which effectively translates the incoming light energy into a biochemical and subsequent neural signal. The distinct absorption patterns of these photopigments are critically important for regulating the body’s circadian rhythms and its overall hormonal systems.