Visual pathway

Question 1

Optic nerves

Answer 1

Comprised of nerve fibres that send messages to the brain.

Question 2

Optic chiasm

Answer 2

Part of the brain where the two optic nerves cross (below hypothalamus and above pituitary gland).

NFs cross from nasal retina to the optic tract on the other side.

NFs from temporal sides pass into optic tracts of the same side.

Question 3

Optic tracts

Answer 3

The path between the optic chiasma and the brain.

Contains temp. NFs of the same side and nasal NFs of the opposite side.

Each tract travels to its corresponding cerebral hemisphere.

Question 4

Optic radiations

Answer 4

Fibers carry axons from the superior retinal quadrants lie laterally, while inferior retinal fibers run medially.

Axons are carried to the visual cortex.

• Upper (Baum’s): Corresponds to the inferior visual field
• Lower (Meyer’s): Corresponds to the superior visual field

Question 5

Visual cortex in the occipital lobes

Answer 5

Part of the brain that receives, integrates and processes visual information relayed from the retinas.