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Y2 Neuro (LCRS2) > Visual Pathways and Control of Eye Movements > Flashcards

Visual Pathways and Control of Eye Movements Flashcards

1
Q

What are the main landmarks of the visual pathway?

A

Eye Optic Nerve Optic Chiasm Optic Tract Lateral Geniculate Nucleus Optic Radiation Primary Visual Cortex (Striate Cortex)

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2
Q

Where do retinal ganglion axons coming down the optic nerve synapse?

A

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

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3
Q

Where is the lateral geniculate nucleus found?

A

Thalamus

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4
Q

What are the fibres leaving the lateral geniculate nucleus called?

A

Optic Radiation

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5
Q

Which order neurones are the fibres leaving the lateral geniculate nucleus and where do they terminate?

A

4th Order Neurones They terminate in the primary visual cortex (Striate Cortex)

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6
Q

What are the first, second and third order neurones in the visual pathway?

A

First Order – photo-receptors (rods and cones) Second Order – bipolar cells Third Order – retinal ganglion cells

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7
Q

What happens as the retinal ganglion cells enter the optic nerve, which improves the transmission of the signal?

A

They become myelinated

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8
Q

What percentage of retinal ganglion cell fibres crosses the midline at the optic chiasma?

A

53%

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9
Q

Describe the convergence and receptive field sizes of rods and cones.

A

Rods have high convergence and large receptive fields Cones have low convergence and small receptive fields

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10
Q

Describe how the convergence of the rod system differs across different parts of the retina.

A

The rod system near that macula has lower convergence than in the peripheral retina

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11
Q

What is the benefit of having high convergence and a large receptive field?

A

High light sensitivity

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12
Q

What is the benefit of having low convergence and a small receptive field?

A

Fine visual acuity

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13
Q

Retinal ganglion cells can be described as on-centre or off-centre. What do these two terms mean?

A

On-centre – they are stimulated by light falling on the centre of the receptive field and inhibited by light falling on the edge of the receptive field Off-centre – they are stimulated by light falling on the edge of the receptive field and inhibited by light falling on the centre This is important in contrast sensitivity and enhanced edge detection

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14
Q

Where do the fibres that decussate at the optic chiasma originate?

A

The nasal part of the retina These fibres are responsible for the temporal half of the visual field

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15
Q

What effect do lesions anterior to the optic chiasm have on vision?

A

Affects only ONE eye

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16
Q

What effect do lesions posterior to the optic chiasm have on vision?

A

Affects BOTH eyes Right-sided lesion: left homonymous hemianopia Left-sided lesions: right homonymous hemianopia

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17
Q

What is the effect of a lesion at the optic chiasm?

A

Bitemporal hemianopia

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18
Q

Which part of the brain does the upper division of the optic radiation travel through and which parts of the visual field is it responsible for?

A

Parietal Lobe Responsible for the inferior visual quadrants

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19
Q

Which part of the brain does the lower division of the optic radiation travel through and what part of the visual field is it responsible for?

A

Temporal Lobe Responsible for the superior visual quadrants

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20
Q

The lower division of the optic radiation loops inferiorly and anteriorly before going posteriorly towards the primary visual cortex. What is this loop called?

A

Meyer’s Loop

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21
Q

What would be the consequence of a lesion in Meyer’s loop?

A

Superior homonymous quadrantopia

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22
Q

What would be the consequence of a lesion of the upper division of the optic radiation?

A

Inferior homonymous quadrantopia

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23
Q

What is homonymous hemianopia typically caused by?

A

Strokes and other cerebrovascular accidents to the optic tract

24
Q

Where is the primary visual cortex located?

A

Along the Calcarine Fissure in the occipital lobe

25
Describe which parts of the primary visual cortex are responsible for the different fields of vision.
The macula has disproportionate representation in the primary visual cortex The left primary visual cortex is responsible for the right visual field from both eyes The right primary visual cortex is responsible for the left visual field from both eyes Visual cortex above the calcarine fissure is responsible for the inferior visual field Visual cortex below the calcarine fissure is responsible for the superior visual field
26
How is it possible for the macula to be spared by a stroke in the primary visual cortex leading to homonymous hemianopia?
The area representing the macula in the primary visual cortex has a dual blood supply (from both right and left posterior cerebral arteries) meaning that it is less vulnerable to ischaemia
27
What are the two pathways of the extrastriate cortex and what are they responsible for?
Dorsal Pathway – connects to the posterior parietal cortex deals with motion detection and Visually-Guided Action Ventral Pathway – connects to the inferiotemporal cortex Detailed fine central vision and colour vision handles detailed object recognition and face recognition
28
Describe what happens to the eyes in the light.
In light: pupil constriction mediated by parasymapthetic nerve (within CN III): decreases spherical aberrations and glare increases depth of field reduces bleaching of photo-pigments
29
Describe the pathway that is responsible for the consensual lightreflex.
Retinal ganglion cells from the retina send they axons back via the optic nerve The fibres that are responsible for the pupillary reflex will get passed the optic chiasm and then leave the posterior 1/3 of the optic tract before it reaches the LGN The axons then go to the pretectal (pre-tech-tal) nucleus in the dorsal brainstem The afferent pathways from each eye then synapse on the Edinger-Westphal nuclei on both sides of the brainstem. The Edinger-Westphal nuclei synapses onto the oculomotor nerve A parasympathetic nerve from the Oculomotor Nerve to the ciliary ganglion forms the efferent pathway Short ciliary nerves travel from the ciliary ganglion to the pupillary sphincter Summary: Retinal Ganglion Cell --\> Pretectal Nucleus --\> Edinger-Westphal Nucleus --\> Oculomotor Nerve Efferent --\> Ciliary Ganglion --\> Short Ciliary Nerves --\> Sphincter Pupillae
30
What would the consequences be of a right afferent defect in the consensual light reflex pathway?
Light shone in right eye: no direct or consensual response Light shone in left eye: direct and consensual response present
31
What would the consequences be of a right efferent defect?
Light shone in right eye: no direct response, consensual response present Light shone in left eye: direct response, no consensual response
32
What does RAPD mean?
Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect A partial pupillary response is still present despite damage to an eye and its pupillary reflex pathway – there is some degree of constriction
33
What test would you do to identify RAPD? What would you expect to see in a patient showing a RAPD?
Swinging Torch Test When the light is shone on the good eye, there will be a direct and consensual response When the light is then swung and shone at the bad eye, there will be a paradoxical dilation of the pupil in both eyes.
34
Define: a. Duction b. Version c. Vergeance d. Convergeance
a. Duction Movement of one eye b. Version Simultaneous movement of both eyes c. Vergeance Simultaneous movement of both eyes in opposite directions d. Convergeance Simultaneous adduction of both eyes when viewing a near object
35
What is the term for the elevation of one eye?
Supraduction
36
What is the term for the depression of both eyes?
Infraversion
37
What is the technical term for right gaze?
Dextroversion
38
What is the technical term for left gaze?
Levoversion
39
What are the two types of eye movement and how are they different?
Saccade – short fast burst Smooth Pursuit – sustained slow movement
40
What reflex is used to assess visual acuity in preverbal children?
Optokinetic Nystagmus Reflex It is a form of physiological nystagmus triggered by the presentation of a constantly moving grating pattern
41
State which nerve innervates each of the extrinsic eye muscles.
Lateral Rectus = Abducens (CN VI) Superior Oblique = Trochlear (CN IV) Medial Rectus, Superior Rectus, Inferior Oblique, Inferior Rectus and Levator Palpebrae Superioris = Oculomotor (CN III)
42
Where do all the rectus muscles originate?
Common tendinous ring at the apex of the orbit
43
Where do the rectus muscles insert?
Into the sclera anterior to the globe equator
44
In what position would the eye have to be to get maximum elevation/depression due to: a. Superior and Inferior Recti b. Superior and Inferior Obliques
a. Abducted b. Adducted
45
Explain why the eye has to be in certain positions to get maximum elevation/depression with respect to the anterior-posterior axis of the eye.
The anterior-posterior axis of the eye is aligned with the axis of the vertical recti when the eye is abducted If the eye is adducted, the axes are not aligned and contraction of the vertical recti would cause torsion Torsion – rotation of eye around the anterior- posterior axis of the eye
46
Where do oblique muscles attach to the eye?
Into the sclera posterio-lateral quadrant of globe They pull the eye forwards and nasally This is because of the pulley system established by the trochlea and the oblique muscles
47
The oculomotor nerve has two branches. State what each of these branches innervates.
Superior Oculomotor Nerve  Superior Rectus  Levator Palpebrae Superioris Inferior Oculomotor Nerve  Inferior Rectus  Medial Rectus  Inferior Oblique  Parasympathetic nerve that causes pupil constriction
48
How would you test the extraocular muscles?
Isolate the muscle to be tested by maximising its action and minimising the action of the other muscles E.g. to test the superior rectus, make the patient abduct and elevate their eye
49
Describe and explain what you would see in a patient with 3rd nerve palsy.
Their affected eye would point down and out This is because of the unopposed contraction of lateral rectus and superior oblique Ptosis – because of the loss of innervation of levator palpebrae superioris Pupil dilation – loss of parasympathetic innervation to the eye via CN III
50
Describe and explain what you would see in a patient with 6thnerve palsy.
When asked the abduct the affected eye, they eye will stop around midline This is because the lateral rectus isn’t functioning and can’t abduct the eye This can lead to blurred vision
51
What is Hering’s Law of Equal Innervation?
Muscles from both eyes involved in conjugate movement receive equalinnervation
52
What structure in the brainstem acts as a synchronising link between the eyes, allowing paired eye movements?
Medial Longitudinal Fasciculus
53
What can damage to the MLF cause?
Internuclear Opthalmoplegia E.g. right abduction wont be accompanied by left adduction Could be accompanied by nystagmus on right gaze
54
What is Sherrington’s Law of Reciprocal Innervation?
Agonist muscles contract while antagonist muscles relax
55
State a condition in which Sherrington’s Law is violated.
Duane’s Syndrome – congenital absence of abducens (CN VI) Both lateral and medial recti are innervated by CN III (oculomotor)

Y2 Neuro (LCRS2) (19 decks)

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