Bildzellen

Bildzellen is a German term that literally means "image cells." It is not a standard scientific term with a fixed definition, and its meaning is highly dependent on context. In practice, the expression appears in various contexts to denote cells involved in vision or image formation, but it is rarely used in formal nomenclature.

In biology, when Bildzellen is used, it is often as a non-technical shorthand for cells that participate in the visual system. The established terms for these cells are photoreceptors—rods and cones in the retina—which convert light into neural signals. Other retinal neurons and higher-visual pathways process and interpret that information.

In imaging technology, Bildzellen may appear as an informal way to refer to image-sensing elements. The standard vocabulary in this field uses Bildsensoren (image sensors) and photosites (pixels) to describe the light-detecting units on cameras and other sensors. In this sense, the term is more common in colloquial or pedagogical writing than in technical literature.

Etymology: Bildzellen combines Bild (image) and Zelle (cell). Because there is no universally accepted definition, the term should be avoided in formal scientific writing in favor of precise terminology such as photoreceptor, retina, image sensor, or pixel.

See also: Photoreceptor, Retina, Image sensor, Pixel, Visual cortex.