Chapter 10: The Central Visual System Flashcards
Retinofugal Projection:
neural pathway that leaves the eye (retina), beginning with the optic nerve
What are the components of the retinofugal projection (in order)?
optic nerve
optic chiasm
optic tract
The optic nerves exit the left and right eyes at the […], travel through the […] behind the eyes in […]., then pass through holes in the floor of the skull.
optic disks; fatty tissue; bony orbit
The optic nerves from both eyes combined to form the […].
optic chiasm
What occurs at the optic chiasm?
the axons originating in the nasal retinas cross from one side to the other
Where is the optic chiasm located?
lies at the base of the brain, just anterior to where the pituitary gland dangles down
Decussation:
crossing of a fiber bundle from one side of the brain to the other
After partial decussation at the optic chiasm, the axons of the retinofugal projections form the […].
optic tracts
Optic tracts run under the […] along the lateral surfaces of the […].
pia; diencephalon
Visual hemifield:
objects appearing to the left or right of the visual midline
Binocular visual field:
central portion of both visual hemifields viewed by both retinas
Lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN):
a thalamic nucleus that relays information from the retina to the primary visual cortex
Optic radiation:
projection from LGN to cortex
Lesion anywhere in the […] projection from eye to […] to visual cortex cause blindness in humans.
retinofugal; LGN
What would happen if there was a transection in the following areas:
Left optic nerve
Left optic tract
Optic chiasm midline
LON– blind in the left eye only
LOT– blindness in the right visual field as viewed in either eye
OPM– blindness results in regions of the visual field viewed by the nasal retinas
Superior colliculus:
This is also called …
structure in the midbrain that receives direct retinal input and controls saccadic eye movement
optic tectum
Projections from the retina to the superior colliculus are often called the …
retinotectal projection
The […] nuclei, located in the dorsal thalamus, are the major targets of the two optic tracts.
right and left lateral geniculate
What is the arrangement of each LGN?
Describe this arrangement:
six distinct layers of cells
like a stack of six pancakes, bent around the optic tract (like bent around the knee)
What sends synaptic input to LGN neurons?
Where do these neurons project to?
retinal ganglion cells
project an axon to primary visual cortex via optic radiation
What axons synapse on the LGN cells (3)?
- M-type
- P-type
- nonM-nonP ganglion cells
Right LGN receives information about the […].
left visual field
The LGN is the gateway to the […] and therefore is conscious […] perception.
visual cortex; visual
In the right LGN, the right eye:
What types of axons synapse on the LGN cells?
In what layers of the LGN does this occur (there’s six).
ipsilateral
2, 3 ,and 5
In the left LGN, the right eye:
What types of axons synapse on the LGN cells?
In what layers of the LGN does this occur (there’s six).
contralateral
1, 4, and 6
What layers of the LGN contain large cells? small cells?
L: 1 and 2 (ventral)
S: 3-6 (dorsal)