Neuroanatomy: 2/11/15

For vision to occur light waves from reflected objects must strike the eye, and this is
refracted by the cornea and lens. The cornea is the primary refractive medium.
Image is formed in the retina. The image that is formed is upside down or inverted
turned Reversed, or left or right.
Inversion - Superior half of the visual field is projected to the inferior half of the
retina, and vice versa
Reversion (turned left or right) the left visual field is projected to the nasal half of
the left retina, and to the temporal half of the right retina. The right visual field is
projected to the temporal half of the left retina and to the nasal half of the right
retina.
Retina is an extension of the central nervous system, it rows from the optic __ which
is the outgrowth of the diencephalon. Contains 2 types of photoreceptor cells: cones
and rods.
Cones mediate color vision, provide high visual acuity, the densest(?)
concentration of cones is found in the fovea centralis of the macula
Rods mediate light perception, they provide low visual acuity. There is good
perception of contrasts. Rods are used chiefly for nocturnal vision, or night vision.
Can accurately determine which is dark or light.
Rods and cones contain visual pigments, which can trap photons of light. Rods:
Rhodopsin; Cones: Iodopsin.
Rods several rods converge on a bipolar cell which connect to the ganglion cell via
the Amacrine cells (interneurons).
Cones - Individual cones projects singly and directly through the bipolar cells to the
ganglion cells (no interneuron)
The fibers of the ganglion cells converge on the optic disc (or optic papilla), where
they will form the optic nerve (CN2). The fibers of the optic nerve will leave the eye
through the optic disc. The optic nerve will go to the optic chiasm, above the sella
turcica, contains partial decussation. Fibers from the nasal halves cross. Fibers from
the temporal halves do not cross/decussate.
After the optic chiasm, the fibers now are called the optic tract. The optic tract will
project to the lateral geniculate in the thalamus, superior colliculus of the midbrain,
pretectal area (where the midbrain fuses with the thalamus).
Superior Colliculus
Neurons that receives visual input in the superior colliculus project to the pons via
the Tectopontine tract. The tectopontine projection relays visual information to the
Cerebellum. Vision is integrated with balance and equilibrium.

The superior colliculus also projects to the spinal cord via the Tectospinal tract
mediates reflex control of the head and neck movements in response to visual
input.

Pretectal area
Sends projection to the Edinger-westphal nucleus (parasympathetic of the
oculomotor nerve). From the edinger-westphal nucleus, the preganglionic fiber will
synapse with the ciliary ganglion (in orbit) will arise the post ganglionic
parasympathetic end in sphincter pupillae, also end in the ciliary muscles which
controls the shape of the lens.
Lateral Geniculate Nucleus
From the lateral g. nucleus, will arise the geniculo-calcarine tract (optic radiations).
These radiations pass through the temporal lobe and end in the occipital lobe,
particularly the Primary Visual Area Brodmann 17.
The primary visual area (aka Striate area due to presence of stripes of white mater
[Gennaris line] in the gray mater) lies in the ___ of the calcarine sulcus. Made up of
2 gyri: the gyrus above = Cuneus; the gyrus below = Lingual gyrus. The cuneus
receives the superior(upper) quadrant of the ipsilateral side of both retinas. The
lingual gyrus receives the lower quadrant of the ipsilateral sides of both retinas.
Visual field defect
Visual defect of the optic nerve - Described with reference to the visual field (not to
the retina
a. A lesion to the optic nerve will result to blindness to the contralateral
side, some diseases will not produce total blindness (cotoma)
i. Funneled-vision
Lesion to the central part of optic chiasm usually caused by tumors in the
pituitary, affects fibers that crosses (nasal part of the left and right retina)
bitemporal hemianopsia both temporal visual fields are affected (heteronymous
hemianopsia), on the left retina, it is the left side that is affected, on the right retina,
the right side is affected
Homonymois hemianopsia same side hemianopsia
Lesion in the right optic tract affects the temporal half of the right retina, and the
nasal half of the right retina the patient will not be able to see the left visual field.
Optic radiation lesion manifestation is the same with optic nerve lesion
Lesion of the cuneus upper quadrant is affected, therefore patient will not be able
to see one lower quadrant of the visual field

Optic reflexes
Light reflex
Pupiloconstriction the eye that is directly shined on will receive the direct
light reflex, the other eye will also constrict (consensual light reflex), pathway via
the pretetal area, to the EW nucleus to the sphincter pupillae
Accomodation ability to see near objects, pathway also through the
pretectal area, end point: ciliary muscles (when contracted, the lens become more
convex, so the image will form directly on the fovea centralis).
Convergence brought about by the contraction of the Medial Rectus
muscles bring the eyeball to the midline, so the object is focused. If convergence
will not happen, the patience will have double vision (seen in patients with lesions
to extraoccular muscles).