Neuro 12: Neurology Of The Visual System Flashcards
Define the visual pathway
Visual pathway = neurological pathway where by vision is converted to neurological impulses —> to be transmitted from the eye to the visual cortex to the posterior part of the brain
The eye is connected to the brain via the ———— nerve
Optic nerve (aka cranial nerve)
What is the optic nerve made out of ?
Made up of myelinated ganglion nerve fibres
With cell bodies originating in the retina
Optic nerves from both eyes converge at the
Optic chiasma
Half of gamglionic nerve fibres Cross at:
While the remaining ganglion nerve fibres:
1/2 - Cross at the optic chiasma then goes along the contralateral optic tract
1/2 - exit along the optic tract on the same side
What does the primary visual cortex do?
- Primary Visual Cortex,
relays visual information to the Extra-striate Cortex,
a region adjacent to the Primary Visual Cortex,
–> for further higher visual processing.
Ganglion nerve fibres originate within:
the retina –>synapse upon the next order neurons,
at the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus.
What is the lateral geniculate nucleus?
a relay centre situated within the Thalamus.
Optic Radiation relaying signal from :
to:
from the Lateral Geniculate Ganglion,
to the Primary Visual Cortex within the occipital lobe,
–> lower visual processing.
the primary visual cortex (striate cortex) relays visual info to:
the extra striate cortex for further higher visual processing
List the visual pathway
eye –> optic nerve –> optic chasm or optic tract –> nerve fibres synapse at lateral geniculate nucleus –> optic radiation –> striate cortex –> extra striate cortex
What are first order neurons?
- rod + cone retinal photoreceptors
What are seconds order neurons?
- retinal bipolar cells
What are third order neurons ?
- retinal ganglion cell
Retinal ganglion fibres terminate at the _____ _____ ______ and synapse upon the ___th order neurons
Retinal ganglion fibres terminate at the LATERAL GENICULATE GANGLION and synapse upon the
4th order neurons
Lesions ______ to optic chiasma affects the visual field in one eye only
anterior
Lesions ______ to optic chiasma affects the visual field in both eyes
posterior
Crossed fibres originate from the _____ ______
nasal retina
What are crossed fibres responsible for?
- responsible for temporal visual field
What are uncrossed fibres responsible for?
- responsible for nasal visual field
uncrossed fibres originate from the _____ ______
temporal retina
What happens upon a lesion at the optic chiasma?
- it damages crossed ganglion fibres from nasal retina in both eyes
- results in temporal field deficit in both eyes
–> bitemporal hemianopia
What happens upon a lesion posterior to optic chiasma?
RHS lesion –> (left homonymous) –> hemianopia in both eyes
LHS lesion –> (right homonymous) –> hemianopia in both eyes
What is bitemporal hemianopia usually caused by?
- enlargement of pituitary gland tumor
WHat is homonymous hemianopia typically caused by?
- typically caused by stroke
Where is the primary visual cortex located at ?
- located along calcimine sulcus in the occipital lobe
What does the primary visual cortex specials in ?
- specialises in processing visual information of static + moving objects
Right hemispherefield from both eyes projects to ____ primary visual cortex
Left hemifield from both eyes projects to the _____ primary visual cortex
Right hemispherefield from both eyes projects to LEFT primary visual cortex
Left hemifield from both eyes projects to the RIGHT primary visual cortex
How is the primary visual cortex organized?
- organised as column with unique sensitivity to visual stimulus of a particular orientation
- right eye + left eye dominant columns are arranged alternatively
Damage to the primary visual cortex due to stroke may result in>
homonymous hemianopia of the contralateral side
with characteristic sparing of the macula central vision.
What is the function of extra striate cortex?
it converts basic visual information such as position + orientation into complex human precepts like motion + object representation
What is the pupillary function?
it regulates light input into the eye
What happens to pupil in light?
pupil constriction
- iris circular muscle contracts
What happens to the pupil in dark?
pupil dilation
why does the pupil constrict in light?
what is this action mediated by?
- reduces amount of light entering the eye
- and so reduces rate of photo-pigment bleaching
mediated by: Parasympathetic nerve
why does the pupil dilate in dark?
what is this action mediated by?
- increases amount of light entering the eye
- increases light sensitivity
mediated by: sympathetic nerve