Visual System - Pathways Flashcards
What are the main visual pathway landmarks (7)?
- Eye
- Optic Nerve
- Optic Chiasm
- Optic Tract
- Lateral Geniculate Nucleus
- Optic Radiation
- Primary Visual Cortex or Striate Cortes
Which nerve connects the eye to the brain?
Optic nerve (CNII)
Where do the optic nerves from both eyes converge?
Optic chiasm
Anteriosuperiorly of the brainstem
What happens at the optic chiasm?
- Approximately half of the ganglion nerve fibres (optic nerve) contralaterally exit along the optic tract
Where do ganglion nerve fibres (optic nerve) synapse with the next order neurones?
Lateral geniculate nucleus
What is the lateral geniculate nucleus and where is it?
- It is a relay centre situated within the thalamus
What forms the fourth order neurones?
Optic radiation
What is the function of the optic radiation?
- Relays signals from the lateral geniculate ganglion to the primary visual cortex within the occipital lobe for lower visual processing
Where is the primary visual cortex?
Within the occipital lobe
What is the striate cortex?
Primary visual cortex
Which region is responsible for further high visual processing besides the primary visual cortex?
- The extra-striate cortex
What are the first order neurones within the visual pathway?
Rod & Cone photoreceptor cells
What are the second order neurones within the visual pathway?
Retinal bipolar cells
What are the third order neurones within the visual pathway?
Retinal ganglion cells (optic nerve)
Which fibres comprise the optic nerve?
Myelinated ganglion nerve fibres
Where are the cell bodies of the optic nerve located?
Within the retina
Where do retinal ganglion fibres terminate?
Within the lateral geniculate ganglion
A lesion occurring anterior to the optic chiasm will affect which visual fields?
- Affect visual field in one eye only
A lesion to the optic chiasm will affect which visual fields?
Temporal Field Deficit in Both Eyes -> Bitemporal Hemianopia
Damages crossed ganglion fibres from nasal retina in both eyes
A lesion occuring posterior to the optic chiasm will affect the visual field in which eyes?
-
Both eyes:
- Right sided lesion –> Left Homonymous Hemianopia in Both Eyes
- Left sided lesion –> Right Homonymous Hemianopia in Both Eyes
Where do crossed fibres originate from?
Nasal retina