Optic tract
Overview
The optic tract is a part of the visual system in the brain.
It is a continuation of the optic nerve and runs from the optic chiasm (where half of the information from each eye crosses sides, and half stays on the same side) to the lateral geniculate nucleus.
Right vs. left
The relationships of the retinal fibers to the optic tracts are as follows:
| optic tract | temporal retinal fibers | nasal retinal fiber |
| right optic tract | from the right eye | from the left eye |
| left optic tract | from the left eye | from the right eye |
Pathology
A lesion in the left optic tract will cause right-sided homonomous hemianopsia.
Additional images
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Diagram of hippocampus
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Schematic diagram of the primate lateral geniculate nucleus.
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Superficial dissection of brain-stem. Ventral view.
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Coronal section of brain through intermediate mass of third ventricle.
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Hind- and mid-brains; postero-lateral view.
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Scheme showing central connections of the optic nerves and optic tracts.
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Base of brain.
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Section of brain showing upper surface of temporal lobe.
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Dissection showing the course of the cerebrospinal fibers.
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