Optic Nerve

Optic Nerve

The Optic Nerve is a paired cranial nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain. In the human body, the optic nerve is formally known as cranial nerve II and is more generally part of the central nervous system, rather than the peripheral nervous system.

Anatomy

The optic nerve is the second of twelve paired cranial nerves but is considered part of the central nervous system, as it is derived from an outpouching of the diencephalon during embryonic development. As such, the fibers are covered with myelin produced by oligodendrocytes, rather than Schwann cells, which are found in the peripheral nerves.

Function

The optic nerve is responsible for transmitting visual signals from the retina to the brain. It carries the ganglion cells' axons, which provide the majority of the input into the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus, the structure responsible for processing visual information.

Clinical significance

Damage to the optic nerve can cause vision loss, as the amount of information that can be sent to the brain is reduced. The most common diseases that affect the optic nerve include glaucoma, optic neuritis, and optic nerve glioma.

See also

• Eye
• Visual system
• Cranial nerves
• Neuroanatomy

References

Optic Nerve Resources
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