Neuro - Visual system pt. 3 + 4 Flashcards
Where does the visual pathway start and end?
transmits signal form eye to visual cortex
What landmarks does the visual pathway go through?
eye → through optic nerve → optic chiasm → optic tract → lateral geniculate nucleus → optic radiation → primary visual cortex
What is the optic nerve?
ganglion nerve fibres
What is the optic chiasm?
half of the nerve fibres cross here (53% of fibres)
What is the optic tract?
ganglion nerve fibres exit the optic chiasm as the optic tract
What is the lateral geniculate nucleus?
→ located in thalamus
→ where the ganglion nerve fibres synapse
What is the optic radiation?
→ 4th order neurone
→ travel in pairs, taking information from homonymous quadrants of vision
What is the primary visual cortex or striate cortes?
→ centre within the occipital lobe
→ processes visual information
→ Extra-Striate Cortex for further higher visual processing
What are the different neurones that make up the visual pathway from the retina to the lateral geniculate nucleus?
→ 1st order neurones
→ 2nd order neurones
→ 3rd order neurones
What are the 1st order neurones?
rod + cone retinal photoreceptors
What are the 2nd order neurones?
retinal bipolar cells
What are the 3rd order neurones?
→ Optic Nerve
→ Partial Decussation at Optic Chiasma – 53% of ganglion fibres cross the midline
→ Optic Tract
→ Destination = Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN) in Thalamus
What do lesions anterior to the optic chiasma affect?
visual field in one eye only
What do lesions posterior to the optic chiasma affect?
visual field in both eyes
Where do crossed fibres at the optic chiasma originate form?
→ predominantly originate from the nasal retina
→ responsible for the temporal half of the visual field in each eye
Where do uncrossed fibres at the optic chiasma originate form?
→ predominantly originate from the temporal retina
→ responsible for the nasal half of the visual field in each eye
What visual defect would a left optic nerve compression cause?
unilateral field loss in left eye
What visual defect would a optic chasmal compression from a pituitary tumour cause?
bitemporal hemianopia
What visual defect would a left cerebrovascular event or stroke cause?
homonymous hemianopia (contralateral to lesion)
What is quadrant-anopia?
→ loss in one of the quadrants of vision
→ usually homonymous
What can cause quadrant-anopia?
lesions to the optic radiations in the temporal or parietal lobes
What is macular sparing?
homonymous hemianopia with a small inner circle of clear vision (sparing of the macula of central vision)
What can cause macular sparing?
→ lesions to optic radiation in the occipital lobe?
→ stroke
→ damage to the primary visual cortex
What can typically cause a bitemporal hemianopia?
enlargement of the pituitary gland due to a tumour