- Head and Neck
- Dental Anatomy
- Upper Extremity
- Thorax
- Abdomen
- Spine and Back
- Pelvis
- Lower Extremity
- Organ Systems
- Skeletal system
- Skull
- Neurocranium
- Frontal bone
- Sphenoid bone
- Temporal bone
- Ethmoid bone
- Occipital bone
- Parietal bone
- Viscerocranium
- Lacrimal bone
- Nasal bone
- Zygomatic bone
- Palatine bone
- Maxilla
- Inferior nasal concha
- Vomer
- Mandible
- Hyoid bone
- Auditory ossicles
- Sutures of skull
- Topography of skull
- Cranial base
- Internal cranial base
- Anterior cranial fossa
- Middle cranial fossa
- Posterior cranial fossa
- External cranial base
- Temporal fossa
- Infratemporal fossa
- Pterygopalatine fossa
- Orbit
- Nasal cavity
- Paranasal sinuses
- Maxillary sinus
- Frontal sinus
- Sphenoidal sinus
- Ethmoidal air cells
- Skeleton of trunk
- Rib cage
- Ribs
- Sternum
- Thoracic vertebrae
- Spine
- Cervical vertebrae
- Thoracic vertebrae
- Lumbar vertebrae
- Sacrum
- Coccyx
- Skeleton of upper limb
- Bones of shoulder girdle
- Clavicle
- Scapula
- Humerus
- Bones of forearm
- Radius
- Ulna
- Bones of hand
- Carpal bones
- Metacarpal bones
- Phalanges of hand
- Skeleton of lower limb
- Pelvis
- Hip bone
- Pubic bone
- Ischium
- Ilium
- Sacrum
- Coccyx
- Femur
- Patella
- Bones of leg
- Tibia
- Fibula
- Bones of foot
- Tarsal bones
- Talus
- Calcaneus
- Cuboid bone
- Navicular bone
- Cuneiform bones
- Metatarsal bones
- Phalanges of foot
- Joints
- Classification of joints
- Joints of skull
- Sutures of skull
- Joints of lower limb
- Joints of pelvis
- Sacrotuberous ligament
- Sacrospinous ligament
- Obturator membrane
- Pubic symphysis
- Sacroiliac joint
- Hip joint
- Knee joint
- Tibiofibular joints
- Superior tibiofibular joint
- Inferior tibiofibular joint
- Joints of foot
- Ankle joint
- Intertarsal joints
- Talocalcaneonavicular joint
- Calcaneocuboid joint
- Transverse tarsal joint (Chopart's joint)
- Cuneonavicular joint
- Subtalar joint
- Tarsometatarsal joints (Lisfranc's joint)
- Intermetatarsal joints
- Metatarsophalangeal joints
- Interphalangeal joints of foot
- Muscles
- Head muscles
- Facial muscles
- Occipitofrontalis
- Occipital belly of occipitofrontalis
- Frontal belly of occipitofrontalis
- Corrugator supercilii
- Depressor supercilii
- Orbicularis oculi
- Orbital part of orbicularis oculi
- Palpebral part of orbicularis oculi
- Lacrimal part of orbicularis oculi
- Buccinator
- Orbicularis oris
- Mentalis
- Depressor anguli oris
- Depressor labii inferioris
- Levator anguli oris
- Levator labii superioris
- Risorius
- Zygomaticus major
- Zygomaticus minor
- Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi
- Nasalis
- Alar nasalis
- Transverse nasalis
- Procerus
- Depressor septi nasi
- Compressor narium minor
- Dilator naris anterior
- Muscles of mastication
- Temporalis
- Masseter
- Lateral pterygoid
- Medial pterygoid
- Neck muscles
- Superficial neck muscles
- Sternocleidomastoid
- Platysma
- Scalene muscles
- Anterior scalene
- Middle scalene
- Posterior scalene
- Suprahyoid muscles
- Mylohyoid
- Digastric
- Anterior belly of digastric
- Posterior belly of digastric
- Stylohyoid
- Geniohyoid
- Infrahyoid muscles
- Sternohyoid
- Sternothyroid
- Thyrohyoid
- Omohyoid
- Prevertebral muscles
- Longus capitis
- Longus colli
- Rectus capitis anterior
- Rectus capitis lateralis
- Suboccipital muscles
- Rectus capitis posterior minor
- Rectus capitis posterior major
- Obliquus capitis superior
- Obliquus capitis inferior
- Muscles of upper limb
- Muscles of pectoral girdle
- Pectoralis major
- Muscles of shoulder region
- Deltoid
- Teres major
- Rotator cuff
- Supraspinatus
- Infraspinatus
- Teres minor
- Subscapularis
- Muscles of upper arm
- Anterior compartment
- Coracobrachialis
- Brachialis
- Biceps brachii
- Posterior compartment
- Triceps brachii
- Anconeus
- Muscles of forearm
- Anterior compartment
- Pronator teres
- Flexor carpi radialis
- Palmaris longus
- Flexor carpi ulnaris
- Flexor digitorum superficialis
- Flexor digitorum profundus
- Flexor pollicis longus
- Pronator quadratus
- Lateral compartment
- Brachioradialis
- Extensor carpi radialis longus
- Extensor carpi radialis brevis
- Posterior compartment
- Extensor digitorum
- Extensor digiti minimi
- Extensor carpi ulnaris
- Abductor pollicis longus
- Extensor pollicis brevis
- Extensor pollicis longus
- Extensor indicis
- Supinator
- Muscles of hand
- Medial group (Muscles of little finger)
- Abductor digiti minimi of hand
- Flexor digiti minimi brevis of hand
- Opponens digiti minimi of hand
- Palmaris brevis
- Middle group of hand muscles
- Lumbricals of hand
- Palmar interossei
- Dorsal interossei of hand
- Lateral group (Muscles of thumb)
- Abductor pollicis brevis
- Flexor pollicis brevis
- Opponens pollicis
- Adductor pollicis
- Muscles of back
- Superficial back muscles
- Trapezius
- Latissimus dorsi
- Rhomboid muscles
- Levator scapulae
- Intermediate back muscles
- Serratus posterior superior
- Serratus posterior inferior
- Deep back muscles
- Superficial layer
- Splenius capitis
- Splenius cervicis
- Intermediate layer (Erector Spinae)
- Spinalis
- Longissimus
- Iliocostalis
- Deep layer (Transversospinales)
- Rotatores
- Multifidus
- Semispinalis
- Deepest layer
- Interspinales
- Intertransversarii
- Levatores costarum
- Muscles of lower limb
- Pelvic muscles
- Iliopsoas
- Iliacus
- Psoas major
- Psoas minor
- Gluteus maximus
- Gluteus medius
- Gluteus minimus
- Tensor fasciae latae
- Piriformis
- Obturator internus
- Obturator externus
- Superior gemellus
- Inferior gemellus
- Quadratus femoris
- Muscles of thigh
- Anterior compartment
- Quadriceps femoris
- Rectus femoris
- Vastus medialis
- Vastus intermedius
- Vastus lateralis
- Sartorius
- Medial compartment
- Pectineus
- Adductor brevis
- Adductor longus
- Adductor magnus
- Gracilis
- Posterior compartment
- Semimembranosus
- Semitendinosus
- Biceps femoris
- Muscles of leg
- Anterior compartment
- Tibialis anterior
- Extensor hallucis longus
- Extensor digitorum longus
- Lateral compartment
- Peroneus longus
- Peroneus brevis
- Posterior compartment
- Superficial layer
- Triceps surae
- Gastrocnemius
- Soleus
- Plantaris
- Deep layer
- Popliteus
- Tibialis posterior
- Flexor digitorum longus
- Flexor hallucis longus
- Muscles of foot
- Dorsal muscles of foot
- Extensor digitorum brevis
- Extensor hallucis brevis
- Plantar muscles of foot
- Medial group (Muscles of big toe)
- Abductor hallucis
- Flexor hallucis brevis
- Adductor hallucis
- Middle group of foot muscles
- Flexor digitorum brevis
- Quadratus plantae
- Lumbricals of foot
- Plantar interossei
- Dorsal interossei of foot
- Lateral group (Muscles of little toe)
- Abductor digiti minimi of foot
- Flexor digiti minimi brevis of foot
- Opponens digiti minimi of foot
- Heart
- Blood vessels
- Blood vessels of systemic circulation
- Blood vessels of head and neck
- Arteries of head and neck
- Brachiocephalic trunk
- Common carotid artery
- External carotid artery
- Superficial temporal artery
- Maxillary artery
- Inferior alveolar artery
- Mental artery
- Superior thyroid artery
- Lingual artery
- Facial artery
- Inferior labial artery
- Superior labial artery
- Submental artery
- Angular artery
- Ascending pharyngeal artery
- Occipital artery
- Posterior auricular artery
- Internal carotid artery
- Anterior cerebral artery
- Middle cerebral artery
- Ophthalmic artery
- Anterior choroidal artery
- Posterior communicating artery
- Superior hypophyseal artery
- Subclavian artery
- Vertebral artery
- Posterior inferior cerebellar artery
- Basilar artery
- Superior cerebellar artery
- Anterior inferior cerebellar artery
- Posterior cerebral artery
- Thyrocervical trunk
- Inferior thyroid artery
- Ascending cervical artery
- Transverse cervical artery
- Suprascapular artery
- Costocervical trunk
- Deep cervical artery
- Superior intercostal artery
- Veins of head and neck
- Veins of head
- Extracranial veins
- Angular vein
- Facial vein
- Submental vein
- Occipital vein
- Posterior auricular vein
- Superficial temporal vein
- Lingual vein
- Intracranial veins
- Dural venous sinuses
- Cavernous sinus
- Petrosal sinuses
- Sigmoid sinus
- Transverse sinus
- Inferior sagittal sinus
- Superior sagittal sinus
- Straight sinus
- Occipital sinus
- Diploic veins
- Cerebral veins
- Deep cerebral veins
- Superficial cerebral veins
- Ophthalmic veins
- Veins of labyrinth
- Veins of neck
- External jugular vein
- Superior thyroid vein
- Inferior thyroid vein
- Subclavian vein
- Anterior jugular vein
- Internal jugular vein
- Vertebral vein
- Deep cervical vein
- Blood vessels of upper limb
- Arteries of upper limb
- Subclavian artery
- Axillary artery
- Brachial artery
- Radial artery
- Ulnar artery
- Veins of upper limb
- Superficial veins of upper limb
- Cephalic vein
- Basilic vein
- Deep veins of upper limb
- Blood vessels of thorax
- Systemic arteries of thorax
- Ascending aorta
- Left coronary artery
- Right coronary artery
- Aortic arch
- Thoracic aorta
- Parietal branches of thoracic aorta
- Posterior intercostal arteries
- Subcostal artery
- Superior phrenic arteries
- Visceral branches of thoracic aorta
- Bronchial arteries
- Esophageal branches of thoracic aorta
- Systemic veins of thorax
- Superior vena cava
- Azygos venous system
- Azygos vein
- Hemiazygos vein
- Accessory hemiazygos vein
- Blood vessels of abdomen
- Arteries of abdomen
- Abdominal aorta
- Posterior branches of abdominal aorta
- Inferior phrenic arteries
- Lumbar arteries
- Median sacral artery
- Visceral branches of abdominal aorta
- Unpaired visceral branches
- Celiac trunk
- Left gastric artery
- Splenic artery
- Common hepatic artery
- Superior mesenteric artery
- Inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery
- Jejunal and ileal arteries
- Middle colic artery
- Right colic artery
- Ileocolic artery
- Inferior mesenteric artery
- Left colic artery
- Superior rectal artery
- Sigmoid arteries
- Paired visceral branches
- Middle suprarenal arteries
- Renal artery
- Ovarian arteries
- Testicular arteries
- Veins of abdomen
- Portal venous system
- Portal vein
- Inferior vena cava
- Blood vessels of pelvis and lower limb
- Arteries of pelvis and lower limb
- Common iliac artery
- Internal iliac artery
- Middle rectal artery
- Lateral sacral arteries
- Superior gluteal artery
- Umbilical artery
- Uterine artery
- Artery to ductus deferens
- Internal pudendal artery
- Iliolumbar artery
- Inferior gluteal artery
- Inferior vesical artery
- Obturator artery
- External iliac artery
- Inferior epigastric artery
- Deep circumflex iliac artery
- Femoral artery
- Deep femoral artery
- Lateral circumflex femoral artery
- Medial circumflex femoral artery
- Descending genicular artery
- Perforating arteries
- Popliteal artery
- Middle genicular artery
- Sural arteries
- Anterior tibial artery
- Posterior tibial recurrent artery
- Anterior tibial recurrent artery
- Anterior medial malleolar artery
- Anterior lateral malleolar artery
- Dorsalis pedis artery
- Arcuate artery
- Deep plantar artery
- Lateral tarsal artery
- Medial tarsal arteries
- Posterior tibial artery
- Circumflex fibular artery
- Medial malleolar branches
- Peroneal artery
- Lateral plantar artery
- Medial plantar artery
- Veins of pelvis and lower limb
- Common iliac vein
- External iliac vein
- Inferior epigastric veins
- Deep circumflex iliac vein
- Internal iliac vein
- Superficial veins of lower limb
- Great saphenous vein
- Small saphenous vein
- Deep veins of lower limb
- Femoral vein
- Popliteal vein
- Anterior tibial vein
- Posterior tibial vein
- Respiratory system
- Nasal cavity
- Paranasal sinuses
- Maxillary sinus
- Frontal sinus
- Sphenoidal sinus
- Ethmoidal air cells
- Larynx
- Trachea
- Bronchi
- Lungs
- Digestive system
- Oral cavity
- Lips
- Cheeks
- Palate
- Tongue
- Gingiva
- Teeth
- Salivary glands
- Pharynx
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Duodenum
- Jejunum and ileum
- Cecum and vermiform appendix
- Pancreas
- Liver
- Endocrine glands
- Thyroid gland
- Parathyroid glands
- Adrenal glands
- Pancreas
- Ovaries
- Nervous system
- Central nervous system
- Brain
- Brainstem
- Midbrain
- Pons
- Medulla oblongata
- Spinal cord
- Peripheral nervous system
- Cranial nerves
- Olfactory nerve (CN I)
- Optic nerve (CN II)
- Oculomotor nerve (CN III)
- Trochlear nerve (CN IV)
- Trigeminal nerve (CN V)
- Ophthalmic nerve (CN V1)
- Maxillary nerve (CN V2)
- Mandibular nerve (CN V3)
- Abducens nerve (CN VI)
- Facial nerve (CN VII)
- Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
- Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
- Vagus nerve (CN X)
- Accessory nerve (CN XI)
- Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
- Spinal nerves
- Anterior rami of spinal nerves
- Cervical plexus
- Brachial Plexus
- Lumbar plexus
- Femoral nerve
- Saphenous nerve
- Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
- Genitofemoral nerve
- Obturator nerve
- Iliohypogastric nerve
- Ilioinguinal nerve
- Sacral plexus
- Superior gluteal nerve
- Inferior gluteal nerve
- Pudendal nerve
- Perineal nerve
- Dorsal nerve of penis
- Dorsal nerve of clitoris
- Inferior rectal nerves
- Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
- Inferior cluneal nerves
- Perineal branches
- Sciatic nerve
- Common peroneal nerve
- Deep peroneal nerve
- Lateral sural cutaneous nerve
- Superficial peroneal nerve
- Tibial nerve
- Medial plantar nerve
- Lateral plantar nerve
- Medial sural cutaneous nerve
- Sural nerve
- Eye
- Eyeball
- Layers of the eyeball
- Fibrous layer
- Sclera
- Cornea
- Vascular pigmented layer
- Choroid
- Ciliary body
- Iris
- Nervous layer
- Retina
- Refractive media of the eyeball
- Lens
- Vitreous body
- Aqueous humor and eye chambers
- Accessory structures of eye
- Eyebrows
- Eyelids
- Conjunctiva
- Lacrimal apparatus
- Lacrimal gland
- Lacrimal canaliculi
- Lacrimal sac
- Nasolacrimal duct
- Extraocular muscles
- Inferior rectus
- Superior oblique
- Medial rectus
- Inferior oblique
- Levator palpebrae superioris
- Superior rectus
- Lateral rectus
- Ear
- External ear
- Auricle
- External acoustic meatus
- Tympanic membrane
- Middle ear
- Auditory ossicles
- Auditory tube
- Tympanic cavity
- Internal ear
- Bony labyrinth
- Vestibule
- Semicircular canals
- Cochlea
- Membranous labyrinth
- Saccule
- Utricle
- Cochlear duct
- Semicircular ducts
- Lymphatic system
- Spleen
- Female reproductive system
- Ovaries
- Skeletal system
- Joints
- Muscles
- Heart
- Blood vessels
- Respiratory system
- Digestive system
- Endocrine glands
- Nervous system
- Eye
- Ear
- Lymphatic system
- Female reproductive system
Optic nerve (CN II)
The optic nerve (second cranial nerve, CN II, Latin: nervus opticus) is a sensory nerve, which is formed by the axons of the ganglion cells of the retina. The optic nerve provides the visual sensation and is involved in the afferent part of the pupillary and accommodation reflexes.
The optic nerve develops as a formation of the diencephalon and that is why it is covered by all of the meningeal layers and surrounded by the subarachnoid space up to the eyeball.
The visual pathway begins in the retina as a chain of three functionally different interconnected neurons: 1) photoreceptor cells (cones and rods), 2) bipolar cells, 3) ganglion cells.The axons of the ganglion cells form the optic nerve that leaves the eyeball at the area called the optic disc.
The optic nerve together with the ophthalmic artery enters the middle cranial fossa through the optic canal. The fibers of the right and left optic nerves partially cross on the prechiasmatic sulcus in the middle cranial fossa. This nerve junction is called the optic chiasm. Only the medial fibers transmitting the visual information from the lateral visual field cross here.
The continuation of the chiasm is called the optic tract. The tract consists of the medial fibers from the contralateral eye and lateral fibers from the ipsilateral eye. The optic tract divides in several parts. Most of the fibers wrap around the cerebral peduncles and reach the lateral geniculate body, and these fibers are part of the main visual pathway. Some fibers form synapses with the pretectal nuclei to provide the pupillary light reflex, while other fibers reach the neurons of the superior colliculus and provide reflectory defensive movements when an unexpected visual stimulus is present. There are also fibers which leave the tract at the area of the optic chiasm and reach the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus, which participates in regulation of the day-night cycles.
The axons of the neurons located in the lateral geniculate body form the optic radiation and reach the primary visual centers in the cerebral cortex via two pathways. The superior part of the tract which carries visual information from the upper visual field of the retina reaches the cuneus, but the inferior part carrying the information from the lower visual field forms the so-called Mayer`s loop and reaches the middle occipitotemporal gyrus.
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