Anatomy Atlases: Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Opus III: Nervous System: Cranial Nerves and Ganglia: Optic (CN II) Nerve

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Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Opus III: Nervous System: Cranial Nerves and Ganglia

Optic (CN II) Nerve

Ronald A. Bergman, PhD
Adel K. Afifi, MD, MS
Ryosuke Miyauchi, MD
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed

In one study of 50 brains, the intracranial length of the nerve varied between 4.8 and 15.1 mm; the majority were 8-10mm. The optic chiasm may be absent. The optic nerves and tracts may be unequal on either side, or the nerve may be absent on either side. The optic nerves are occasionally doubled and "accessory" optic nerves have been reported. There are reports of the optic tract being directly joined to the peduncles cerebri and to the brain stem. The entire visual system has been reported absent in an adult.

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References

Meyer, H. (1870) Eine historische Notiz über eine Varietät des N. opticus. Arch. Anat. Physiol. Wissen. Med. 1870:523-524.

Spiller, W.G. (1902) A case of complete absence of the visual system in an adult. University of Pennsylvania Medical Bulletin, 14:448-453

Weinberg, R. (1926) Ungekreutzte Sehnervenfasern. Z. Anat. Entwicklungsgesch. 79:433-446.

Whitnall, S,E. (1932) The Anatomy of the Human Orbit, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, London.

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