Visual Pathways Flashcards
What is the cornea?
Clear protective outer layer
What is the iris?
- Thin circular structure that controls diameter of the pupil
- Defines eye color
What is the pupil?
Hole in center of the iris that allows light to enter
What is the lens?
As light passed through the cornea and the lens refraction occurs to form the image on the retina
What is the vitreous body?
Clear, gel like structure between the lens and the retina
What is the retina?
- Layer of cells lining the back wall inside the eye
- Senses light and sends signals to the brain so you can see
What is the fovea?
Region of the retina with highest visual acuity
What is the macula?
- An oval region (3 x 5 mm) that surrounds the fovea
- Relatively high visual acuity
What is the optic disc?
- Region where the axons leaving the retina gather to form the optic nerve
- No photo receptors
Which cranial nerve is the optic nerve?
CN II
What is the formation of images on the retina?
Optical properties of the lens invert and reverse projection of the visual image on the retina
Where is the central fixation point for each eye?
Fovea
The optic disc sits 15° medial (nasal) to the ?
Fovea
Since the optic disc sits 15° medial to the fovea what does this create?
small blind spot 15° lateral and slightly inferior to the central fixation point for each eye
If you had both eyes open can you tell your eye has a blind spot? Why or why not?
- Blind spots for the two eyes are not superimposed
- No functional deficit
If you only have one closed are you aware of blind spot? Why or why not?
- Unaware of blind spot
- Visual analysis pathways “fill in” blind spot
Which is more numerous rods or cones?
Rods
What is the main function of rods?
Vision in low lighting conditions
Do rods or cones detect color?
Cones
Which has relatively poor spatial and temporal resolution? Rods or Cones?
Rods
- Cones have relatively high spatial and temporal resolution
Cones are highly represented in the ?
Fovea (visual acuity)
Cones detect (blank) types that contain (blank) form of pigment?
3 & 3
- Each absorbs light from a different part of the spectrum
What forms the outermost layer of the retina?
Photoreceptors
In order for light to reach photoreceptors in must travel through?
All layers
T/F: All other layers of the retina are present in the fovea
F: They are not present which allows light to reach receptors without distortion
The cells of the visual pathway are activated by what? What is the order of synapse?
- Activated by light
Photoreceptors synapse on bipolar cells, bipolar cells synapse on ganglion cells, axons of ganglion cells sent into optic nerve
Photoreceptors and bipolar cells do not fire action potentials, so how is information conveyed?
- Via passive electrical conduction
- Nontraditional synapse release neurotransmitter in a graded fashion dependent upon membrane potential
How do ganglion cells convey information?
- Fire action potentials
- Convey information into the optic nerve
What are the 2 types of interneurons?
- Horizontal cells
- Amacrine Cells
Light on the retina has one effect on the bipolar and ganglion cells directly in its path and the opposite effect on the (BLANK) bipolar and ganglion cells
Light on the retina has one effect (inhibition or excitation) on the bipolar and ganglion cells directly in its path and the opposite effect (excitation or inhibition) on the surrounding bipolar and ganglion cells
What happens to on center cells when light hits them?
- Center of receptive field is Excited by light
- Surrounding area is Inhibited by light
What happens to off center cells when light hits them?
-Center of receptive field is inhibited by light
- Surrounding area is Excited by light
Parasol cells have (BLANK) cell bodies, receptive (dendritic) fields and, diameter fibers
Large
Midget cells have (BLANK) cell bodies, receptive (dendritic) fields, and diameter fibers.
Small
What does parasol cells respond best to?
Gross stimulus features and movement
What are midget cells sensitive to?
Fine visual details and to colors
Where do parasol cells project?
Project to magnocellular layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus
Where do midget cells project?
Project to parvocellular layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus
What forms the optic nerve and where do they meet?
- Formed by retinal ganglion cells
- L & R optic nerves meet at the optic chiasm
What fibers cross at the optic chiasm?
- Partial crossing of fibers
- Medial (nasal) retinal fibers for each eye cross
What is the L optic tract and what information does it carry?
- Fibers from the left hemiretina of both eyes
- Carries information from the R visual field
What is the R optic tract and what information does it carry?
- Fibers from the right hemiretina of both eyes
- Carries information for the L visual field
What is the optic chiasm susceptible to?
Compression by pituitary tumors and other lesions in the area
What two distinct pathways are supplied by the optic tract?
- Geniculate Pathway
- Extrageniculate Pathway
Where does the geniculate pathway synapse?
Synapses in lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus
Where does the extrageniculate pathway synapse?
Synapses in superior colliculus and pretectal areas of the midbrain
Where does the geniculate pathway relay information to?
Relay to primary visual cortex via optic radiations