Biology:Optical pathway

The optical pathway collects, transforms and creates an idea of the phenomena related to the presence and manifestations of light energy. Most of the impressions from the outside world are obtained through the senses of sight. The retina, which is the receiving part of the sense pathway of vision, as well as the optic nerve during development, arise from parts of the central nervous system. The sense of sight is well developed in terrestrial vertebrates with binocular vision. Primates are already developing the ability of three-dimensional vision, and humans have seen the most perfect vision, which is especially related to the high degree of development of the cerebral cortex, especially the associative optical cortex.

The optical pathway is a system of interconnected neurons, which connect the retina to the subcortical and cortical visual centers. This time, the neurons accept and transmit the image of the observed object, enabling its understanding and spatial vision. Reflex neurons this time start from the reflex optical center (stratum griseum profundum colliculi superioris) and connect it with the motor nuclei of the spinal nerves (tractus tectospinalis), the motor nuclei of the cerebral nerves (tractus tectobulbaris), the reticular nuclei of the cerebral tract in the cerebral tract (tectocerebellar tract). These numerous connections enable many defensive reflex actions in response to stimuli caused by visual impressions (reflexive movement of the head and neck, reflexive rotation of the eyes, blinking, dilation or narrowing of the pupil, accommodation, convergence of the eyes).

The optic pathway has four neurons, three of which lie in the retina, and the fourth is located in the central nervous system. The processing of visual impulses (information) begins in the retina.

Further reading

• Dr. Aleksandar Ilic, Dr. Milena Blagotic, Dr. Slobodan Malobabic, Dr. Vidosava Radonjic, Dr. Milan Prostran, Dr. Jovo Tosevski. (2010). Anatomija centralnog nervnog sistema. 11th edition. Savremena administracija JSC. ISBN:978-86-387-0796-6