The Neurology of The Visual System Flashcards
Total Visual Path?
- Eye
- Optic nerve - ganglion nerve fibres
- Optic chiasm - HALF of fibres decussate here
- Optic tract - ganglion fibres exit as optic tract
- Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN) - ganglion fibres synapse in nucleus
- Optic radiation - 4th order neuron
- Primary visual cortex OR striate cortes (occipital love)
ONENOTE!!
Visual pathway of the Retina? (light pathway)
- 1st order neuron - photoreceptors
o rods and cones retinal - 2nd order neuron - bipolar cells
- 3rd order neuron - ganglionic cells
o travel down length of optic nerve
o have PARTIAL decussation at optic chaism
o Fibres synapse at LGN located within the thalamus
Define Receptive Field
Retinal space within which incoming light can alter the firing pattern of a neuron
Photoreceptors have a small circular space surrounding it - receptive field
Define convergence
Number of LOWER ORDER neurons field synapsing on the SAME HIGHER ORDER neuron (RGC)
RGC receive input from neighbouring photoreceptors (convergence)
ONENOTE!
Convergence of rods vs. cones?
Cone system has a LOWER ORDER of covergence than the rod system
o cones tend to be one-to-one
o many rods tend to link to a single RGC
Cone system convergence «<
rods system convergence
ONENOTE!!
Convergence of central retina vs. peripheral retina?
Central retina convergence «< peripheral retina covergence
As centra of fovea has highest [RGC] (more cones, NO rods)
o the further away, the MORE photoreceptors feed into ONE RGC
What does low convergence mean?
o SMALL receptive field
o FINE visual acuity
o LOW light sensitivity
What does high convergence mean?
o LARGE receptive field
o COURSE visual acuity
o HIGH light sensitivity
What are RGCs split into?
ON-centre & OFF-centre cells
ON-centre ganglionic cells?
Stimulated by light at the CENTRE of the receptive field
Inhibited by light on the EDGE of the receptive field
OFF-centre ganglionic cells?
Inhibited by light at the CENTRE of the receptive field
Stimulated by light on the EDGE of the receptive field
Why is the On- & Off-centre ganglion cells important?
Important for
o contrast sensitivity
o edge detection
ONENOTE!!!
Important of Optic Chiasma?
53% of fibres decussate here
Lesions ANTERIOR affect SINGLE eyes only
Lesions POSTERIOR affect BOTH eyes
Crossed and uncrossed fibres in the optic chiasma?
Crossed fibres
o originate from NASAL retina
o responsible for TEMPORAL visual field
Uncrossed fibres
o originate from TEMPORAL retina
o responsible for NASAL visual field
ONENOTE!!
Visual defects in relation to the optic chiasm?
Lesion AT optic chiasma
o damages crossed RGC fibres from nasal retina in both eye
o SO temporal deficit in BOTH eyes
o i.e. BITEMPORAL HEMIANOPIA
Lesion POSTERIOR to optic chiasma
o Right-sided lesion = left HOMONYMOUS HEMIANOPIA in both eyes
o Left-sided lesion = right homonymous hemianopic in both eyes
Disorders of Visual Pathway?
ONENOTE!!
If doesn’t cross vertical line - neurological disorder
If doesn’t cross the horizontal line - eye problem (e.g. glaucoma)
The further the lesion is at the back, the smaller the visual defect will be UNLESS its a proper damage that affects the whole tract
Causes of Bitemporal Hemianopia?
- enlargement of PG tumour
o sits UNDER optic chiasma
o pushes against it
Causes of Homonymous Hemianopia?
Stroke (cerebrovascular accident)
Macular sparing?
LOSS of peripheral vision
BUT
RETAIN central acuity
Another name for Primary Visual Cortex?
Striate cortex
Where is the 1o Visual Cortex situated and how can you identify it?
Along the Calcarine Fissure
Characterised by a distinct stripe derived from the myelinated fibre of the optic radiation projection