Blood supply to the Visual Pathway

Question 1

What supplies blood to the intraocular portion of the optic nerve

Answer 1

1. Central retinal artery supplies the optic disc
2. Short posterior ciliary artery supplies the pre-laminar and laminar portions (superior portion supplies the superior ON and the inferior portion supplies the inferior ON) Also anastomoses to form the circle of Zinn-Haller around the optic nerve head.

Question 2

What supplies blood to the intraorbital portion of the optic nerve

Answer 2

1. Collateral branches from the central retinal artery
2. Collateral branches from the ophthalmic artery
3. Collateral branches from the pial artery

Question 3

What supplies blood to the intracanalicular portion of the optic nerve

Answer 3

1. Collateral branches from the central retinal artery

2. Collateral branches from the ophthalmic artery

Question 4

What supplies blood to the intracranial portion of the optic nerve

Answer 4

1. Collateral branches from the central retinal artery
2. Collateral branches from the ophthalmic artery
3. Superior hypophyseal artery

Question 5

Which artery forms the circle of Zinn-haller and where is it located

Answer 5

The short posterior ciliary artery and it is located at the optic nerve head.

Question 6

Collateral means

Answer 6

Additional

Question 7

What arteries supply blood to the optic chiasm

Answer 7

Circle of Willis (R and L internal carotid anastomose with the R and L vertebral) and the superior hypophyseal artery (branch of the internal carotid)

Question 8

The circle of willis is formed by the anastomose of

Answer 8

The 2 internal carotid and the 2 vertebral arteries, which are branches off the subclavian

Question 9

Which arteries are apart of the circle of willis

Answer 9

R and L posterior cerebral (only branch off vertebral/basilar)
R and L posterior communicating
R and L internal carotid 
R and L anterior cerebral 
Anterior communicating

Question 10

What is the only branch of the circle of willis that comes from the vertebral/basilar artery?

Answer 10

The R and L posterior cerebral. The rest come from the internal carotid.

Question 11

What are the two areas of the body that singly supply the eyes with blood? Ex: if pt comes in with sudden/complete vision loss in both eyes. Where could blood flow have been occluded?

Answer 11

Heart and basilar artery.

Question 12

What supplies the optic tract with blood

Answer 12

The anterior choroidal artery and small branches of the middle cerebral

Question 13

What supplies the optic radiation with blood

Answer 13

The anterior choroidal artery supplies the anterior portion (came from internal carotid)
The middle cerebral artery supplies all portions
The posterior cerebral artery supplies the posterior portion (came from the basilar/angular/subclavian)

Question 14

Is the middle cerebral artery apart of the circle of willis?

Answer 14

No

Question 15

Primary visual cortex is supplied with blood from

Answer 15

The posterior cerebral artery and in some people, the middle cerebral artery can contribute to the blood supply of the macular fibers.