4.1 retina and central visual pathways Flashcards
what are the 3 layers of the eye?
sclera
uvea
retina
what is the sclera?
the outermost layer of the eye.
tough and continuous with dural sheath of the optic nerve
what is the uvea?
pigmented vascular layer. Choroid sitting just deep to sclera, Ciliary body and iris sitting anteriorly
what is the retina?
the innermost neural layer of the eye. Contains a variety of different neural and epithelial cell layers to allow us to see, process information and relay to the optic nerve
what are the 5 layers of the retina?
• Retinal pigment epithelium
• Photoreceptor cells
• Bipolar cells (first order neurones receiving input from photoreceptors). Bipolar cells are connected by horizontal cells which assist with enhancing edges through a process called lateral
inhibition
• Ganglion cell layer (receives input from bipolar cells. ) Axons of
ganglion cells form the…
• Nerve fibre layer
how do we routinely examine the retina?
fundoscopy
what diseases can we detect on fundoscopy?
hypertensive retinopathy, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration
where on the retina has the point of highest visual acuity?
macula
what is the fundus?
The fundus of the eye is the interior surface of the eye opposite the lens and includes the retina, optic disc, macula, fovea, and posterior pole.
where does the macula sit in relation to the optic disc?
macula sits laterally
what is the optic disc?
the point of exit of the ganglion cell axons
during fundoscopy, branches of which vessels can be seen on the macula?
Branches of
central retinal artery and vein are visible on the macula
what is Amaurosis fugax?
Occlusion of the central retinal artery (a branch of the ophthalmic artery) causes sudden transient visual loss.
what specialist technique can be used to visualise the layers of the retina?
Optical coherence tomography
what detects light from the temporal visual field?
medial retina / nasal retina
what detects light from the medial visual field?
the temporal retina / lateral retina
where do ganglion cells of the eye project to?
a part of the thalamus called the lateral geniculate
nucleus via the optic tract
where does the lateral geniculate nucleus project to?
projects to the visual cortex of the occipital lobe via the optic radiations
how do the pathways of the ganglion cells of the nasal retina differ from the pathway of the ganglion cells of the temporal retina?
Ganglion cells supplying the temporal retina project to the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere whereas ganglion cells from the nasal retina project to the contralateral hemisphere via the optic chiasm (i.e. they decussate)
which hemisphere does the left binocular visual field project to?
the right hemisphere as it is detected by the left eyes nasal retina and decussates at the optic chiasm