| optic tract | The continuation of the optic nerve fibres beyond (behind) the latter's hemidecussation in the optic chiasm; each of the two symmetrical optic tracts is composed of fibres originating from the temporal half of the retina of the ipsilateral eye and a nearly equal number of fibres from the nasal half of the contralateral retina; it forms a compact, somewhat flattened fibre band passing caudolaterally alongside the base of the hypothalamus and over the basal surface of the crus cerebri; most of its fibres terminate in the lateral geniculate body; a smaller number of fibres enter the brachium of the superior colliculus, to terminate in the superior colliculus and the pretectal region. Synonym: tractus opticus. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| optic vesicle | In the embryo, one of the paired evaginations from the ventrolateral walls of the forebrain from which the sensory and pigment layers of the retina develop. Synonym: vesicula ophthalmica, ocular vesicle, optic vesicle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| orbital part of optic nerve | <anatomy, nerve> The part of the optic nerve between the eye and the optic canal. Synonym: pars orbitalis nervi optici. (05 Mar 2000) |
| excavation of optic disc | The normally occurring depression or pit in the centre of the optic disc. Synonym: excavatio disci, depression of optic disk, excavatio papillae, physiologic cup, physiologic excavation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| external sheath of optic nerve | <anatomy, nerve> The outer sheath around the optic nerve, continuous with the dura mater. Synonym: vagina externa nervi optici, dural sheath of optic nerve. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lateral root of optic tract | The larger division of the posterior end of the optic tract that terminates in the lateral geniculate body. Synonym: radix lateralis tractus optici. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Leber's hereditary optic atrophy | Hereditary degeneration of the optic nerve and papillomacular bundle with resulting rapid loss of central vision, progressive for several weeks, then usually stationary with permanent central scotoma; age of onset is variable, most often in the third decade; more males than females are affected and transmission is cytoplasmic and strictly on the female side. Mutation on the mitochondrial chromosome involved, which presumably interacts with an X-linked mutant. This mechanism may explain the bizarre sex ratio, which differs significantly from one country to another. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lenticulo-optic | Relating to the lentiform nucleus and the optic tract; specifically refers to branches of the middle cerebral artery considered to supply these structures. (05 Mar 2000) |