Neuro Flashcards
Describe the neurologic visual pathway anterior to posterior
Optic nerve → chiasm → optic tract → lateral geniculate body → optic radiation → occipital lobe
How many nerve fibers are found in an adult optic nerve?
composed of 1.2 million nerve fibers
What is the average diameter of the optic nerve?
approximately 1.5 mm in diameter
What is the diameter of the optic nerve at the lamina cribrosa? Why is it larger?
enlarges to 3.5 mm posterior to lamina cribrosa due to myelin sheath
How far is the optic nerve from the fovea (approximately)?
located 3–4 mm from fovea
Where is the physiologic blind spot (due to the optic nerve) located?
absolute scotoma is 15° temporal to fixation and slightly below horizontal meridian
What is the total length of the optic nerve?
approximately 45-50 mm in length
What is the intraocular length of the optic nerve?
1mm
What is the intraorbital length of the optic nerve?
25mm
What is the intracanalicular length of the optic nerve?
9mm
What is the intracranial length of the optic nerve?
10-15mm
At which location does the optic nerve begin to aquire myelin?
psoterior to the lamina cribrosa
Which layer of the meninges merges with the sclera?
dura mater - outer layer
Which layer of meninges is fused to the surface of the nerve?
pia mater- inner layer
Between which two layers of meninges is the space that contains CSF?
space between arachnoid and pia contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Through which structure does the optic nerve run before entering the optic canal?
annulus of Zinn (ring of tendinous origins of the rectus muscles)
What are the dimensions of the optic canal?
9 mm long and 5–7 mm wide
Which wall of the optic cannal is thinnest?
medially, adjacent to ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses
Where does the dura of the optic canal fuse in the optic canal?
dura of ON fuses with PERIOSTEUM of canal
Where does the interal carotid artery emerge from the cavernous sinus?
laterally
What artery supplies the orbital portion of the optic nerve?
ophthalmic artery with meningeal anastomoses
Which blood vessels supply the INTRACANALICULAR portion of the optic nerve?
pial branches from ophthalmic artery
possibly internal carotid artery (ICA)
Which blood vessels supply the INTRACRANIAL portion of the optic nerve?
- small vessels from ICA
- anterior cerebral and anterior communicating arteries
Where is the optic chiasm located?
10 mm above pituitary gland
What percentage of optic nerve fibers decussate at the chiasm?
55% of ON fibers cross in chiasm
Which retinal fibers decussate at the chiasm (nasal or temporal)?
nasal retinal fibers cross in chiasm to contralateral optic tract (decussating nasal fibers); temporal fibers remain uncrossed; macular fibers run posteriorly (posterior compression leads to bitemporal defect)
Which retinal fibers course through Willebrand’s knee? What type of scotoma is produced?
- inferonasal retinal fibers cross in chiasm and course anteriorly approximately 4 mm into contralateral ON before running posteriorly
- produces junctional scotoma
where are the carotid arteries located relative to the chiasm?
Carotid arteries course on either side of chiasm
What is the main blood supply to the chiasm?
ICA; occasionally by anterior cerebral and anterior communicating arteries
Where are teh lower retinal fibers found in the optic tract?
lower fibers lie laterally (90° rotation of fibers)
around which structure does the optic tract course?
tract courses laterally around cerebral peduncle
Why does damage to the optic tract result in a contralateral rAPD?
Damage to optic tract results in contralateral relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) because 55% of fibers cross (greater quantity of nasal fibers [nasal to fovea]), including the large monocular crescent (which corresponds with the extreme nasal retina)
How does vision contribute to control of diurnal rhythms?
Special fibers run to the hypothalamus, contributing to neuroendocrine systems that control diurnal rhythms
What type of reflexes is the superior colliculus involved in?
involved in foveation reflexes (receives input from pupillary fibers); injury disrupts eye movements but does not cause visual field (VF) defect
What is the blood supply of the optic tract?
- anterior choroidal artery
- branches from posterior communicating artery
the Lateral geniculate body is a part of which neuroanatomical structure?
part of the thalamus
To which layers in the LGB do crossed fibers project?
Crossed fibers (contralateral eye): project to layers 1, 4, and 6
To which layers in the LGB do uncrossed fibers project?
Uncrossed fibers (ipsilateral eye): project to layers 2, 3, and 5
In which layers of the LGB are magnocellular (M-cell) neurons found?
layers 1 and 2
What visual role do Magnocellular (M) cells play?
- motion detection
- stereoacuity
- contrast sensitivity
To wich layer of the visual cortex do M cells project?
project to layer 4C alpha of visual cortex
In which layers of the LGB are Parvocellular neurons (P cell) found?
layers 3 to 6
What visual role do Parvocellular (P) cells play?
- fine spatial resolution
- color vision
To which layer of the visual cortex do P cells project?
layer 4C beta of visual cortex
In which areas of the LGB do the Koniocellular neurons (k cells) reside?
sit in interlaminar zones and superficial layers
From which 2 structures do K cells receive input?
receive input from both retinas and the superior colliculus
What is the blood supply to the LGB?
anterior communicating artery and choroidal arteries
What structure in the visual pathway connects the LGB to the occipital cortex?
optic radiations
How do superior retinal fibers travel through the optic radiations?
Superior retinal fibers (inferior VF) travel in white matter underneath parietal cortex to occipital lobe
How doe the inferior retinal fibers travel through the optic radiations?
Inferior retinal fibers (superior VF) travel around ventricular system into temporal lobe (Meyer’s loop)
Where is Meyer’s loop located relative to the temporal lobe?
Meyer’s loop is about 5 cm from tip of temporal lobe
What visual field defect can be seen with an injury to Meyer’s loop?
temporal lobe injury causes incongruous homonymous superior quadrantanopia, or a ‘pie-in-the-sky’ VF defect
Where do the macular fibers travel through the optic radiations relative to the retinal fibers?
travel more centrally than do inferior retinal fibers
What is the blood supply to the optic radiations?
middle cerebral arteries
Where is the primary visual cortex located?
medial face of occipital lobe
Which structure divides the primary visual cortex?
divided horizontally by calcarine fissure
Does the visual cortex contain infromation from the contralateral or ipsilateral eye?
Visual cortex contains a topographic map of the contralateral hemifield
Where is the macular region foudn in the primary visual cortex?
Macular region is posterior, extending slightly onto lateral aspect of occipital lobe
Where is th eperipheral visual field located in the visual cortex?
Peripheral VF is located anteriorly along calcarine fissure
Which is the only site posterior to the chiasm that if injured would cause a monocular VF defect?
Temporal crescent
- each VF (from 55° to 100°) is seen only by nasal retina of ipsilateral eye; located most anteriorly
- may also be the only portion of VF spared after occipital lobe damage
What is the blood supply to the primary visual cortex?
middle and posterior cerebral arteries
Where do the sympathetic fibers from the hypothalmus synapse? Where is this located?
CILIOSPINAL CENTER OF BUDGE
located at level C8–T2
Where do the 2nd order sympathetic fibers synapse?
SUPERIOR CERVICAL GANGLIA
Is the ciliary ganglia sympathetic or parasympathetic?
parasympathetic
Where is the ciliary ganglia located?
1 cm from optic foramen between ON and lateral rectus muscle
Name the 3 nerve fiber roots that are received by the ciliary ganglion:
Which ones synapse?
- Long sensory
- Short parasympathetic (synapse)
- Sympathetic (do not synapse)
What is the role of the long sensory nerves?
sensory from:
- cornea
- iris
- ciliary body
What is the role of the short parasympathetic fibers of the ciliary ganglion?
motor to ciliary body and iris sphincter
What is the role of the sympathetic fibers of the ciliary ganglion?
conjunctival vasoconstrictor fibers and iris dilator
What ganglia is traversed by the geniculate nucleus?
Geniculate nucleus