Structural and functional unit of compound eye

Options

A. Ommatidium
B. Protodeum
C. Coprodeum
D. Stomodeum

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Compound Eye**: The compound eye is a type of eye found in arthropods, such as insects (e.g., houseflies). It is made up of multiple small visual units.

2. **Identifying the Structural and Functional Unit**: The basic structural and functional unit of the compound eye is called an **ommatidium**. Each ommatidium functions as an individual eye, contributing to the overall vision of the organism.

3. **Analyzing the Structure of Ommatidia**: When viewed under a microscope, the compound eye of a housefly reveals a honeycomb maze structure, where each ommatidium contains its own lens and photoreceptor cells.

4. **Function of Ommatidia**: Each ommatidium captures light and contributes to the visual perception of the environment. This allows arthropods to have a wide field of vision and detect movement effectively.

5. **Conclusion**: The correct answer to the question about the structural and functional unit of the compound eye is **ommatidium**.