Cranial nerve II

Cranial nerve II
The second cranial is the optic nerve, the nerve that connects the eye to the brain and carries the impulses formed by the retina — the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light and creates the impulses — to the brain which interprets them as images. The cranial nerves emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral column. There are twelve cranial nerves. In terms of its embryonic development, the optic nerve is a part of the central nervous system (CNS) rather than a peripheral nerve. The word "optic" comes from the Greek "optikos", pertaining to sight. Aside from the optic nerve, the eye has a number of other components. These include the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, retina, macula, and vitreous. The cornea is the clear front window of the eye that transmits and focuses light into the eye. The iris is the colored part of the eye that helps regulate the amount of light that enters the eye. The pupil is the dark aperture in the iris that determines how much light is let into the eye. The lens is the transparent structure inside the eye that focuses light rays onto the retina. The retina is, as mentioned, the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light and creates impulses that go through the optic nerve to the brain. The macula is a small area in the retina that contains special light-sensitive cells and allows us to see fine details clearly. The vitreous humor is a clear, jelly-like substance that fills the middle of the eye. In sum, the optic nerve is uniquely a part of both the eye and the brain. It is embryologically the brain's envoy to the eye and functionally the eye's envoy to the brain.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cranial nerve — Nerve: Cranial nerves Inferior view of the brain and brain stem showing cranial nerves. An unlabelled version is here Latin nervus cranialis (plural: nervi cranial …   Wikipedia

  • cranial nerve — n any of the 12 paired nerves that arise from the lower surface of the brain with one of each pair on each side and pass through openings in the skull to the periphery of the body see ABDUCENS NERVE, ACCESSORY NERVE, AUDITORY NERVE …   Medical dictionary

  • cranial nerve — n. a peripheral nerve coming from the brainstem: many animals, including humans, have twelve pairs of such nerves, including the olfactory, optic, trigeminal, facial, and auditory nerves …   English World dictionary

  • cranial nerve — noun any of the 12 paired nerves that originate in the brain stem • Hypernyms: ↑nerve, ↑nervus • Hyponyms: ↑olfactory nerve, ↑nervii olfactorii, ↑first cranial nerve, ↑optic nerve, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Cranial nerve IV — The fourth cranial nerve, the trochlear nerve, is the nerve supply to the superior oblique muscle of the eye, one of the muscles that moves the eye. Paralysis of the trochlear nerve results in rotation of the eyeball upward and outward (and,… …   Medical dictionary

  • Cranial nerve V — The fifth cranial nerve is the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve is quite complex. It functions both as the chief nerve of sensation for the face and the motor nerve controlling the muscles of mastication (chewing). Problems with the sensory …   Medical dictionary

  • Cranial nerve XI — The eleventh cranial nerve is the accessory nerve. The twelve cranial nerves, the accessory nerve included, emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium) as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral column. The accessory is so… …   Medical dictionary

  • Cranial nerve VI — The sixth cranial nerve is the abducent nerve. It is a small motor nerve that has one task: to supply a muscle called the lateral rectus muscle that moves the eye outward. Paralysis of the abducent nerve causes inward turning of the eye (internal …   Medical dictionary

  • Cranial nerve X — The tenth cranial nerve, and one of the most important, is the vagus nerve. All twelve of the cranial nerves, the vagus nerve included, emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral… …   Medical dictionary

  • Cranial nerve IX — The ninth cranial nerve is the glossopharyngeal nerve. The 12 cranial nerves, the glossopharyngeal nerve included, emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral column. The… …   Medical dictionary

  • Cranial nerve I — The cranial nerves emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral column. There are twelve cranial nerves. The first cranial nerve is the olfactory nerve which carries impulses for… …   Medical dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”