Anatomy Physiology and Examination
of Optic Nerve
Maya Riskita Sari, MD. Wino Vrieda Vierlia, MD.
To cite this article: Maya Riskita Sari, MD. Wino Vrieda Vierlia, MD
(2021). Anatomy Physiology and Examination of Optic Nerve
ABSTRACT
Optic nerve is part of the ganglion cell layer that fills the whole retina The primary function of
optic nerve is visual information. Optic nerve examination are visual acuity, pupil examination,
color vision test, visual field test and funduscopy. Certain disorders, such as tumor, trauma,
or infection, may result in nerve lesions and produce clinical symptoms based on the lesion's
location. Good examination of the innervation function is very useful to find out the location of
nerve lesions, making it easier to establish diagnoses and management plans.
Keywords : Optic nerve, nerve lesion, nerve examination
1
Introduction tumor, trauma, or infection, may result in nerve
Anatomically, the nervous system is lesions and produce clinical symptoms based
typically divided into the central nervous system on the lesion's location.
and the peripheral nervous system. Brain and This journal will discuss the anatomy,
spinal cord comprise the central nervous physiology and examination of the optic nerve
system. Cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and (CN.II), the purpose of making this journal is to
ganglia constitute the peripheral nervous understand the nerves of the eye and orbital
system. In the peripheral nervous system, there area so that it will be very helpful for diagnosing
are two kinds of nerve cells , sensory, which and planning the management of diseases
transmits information from sensory receptors to associated with nerve lesions.
the central nervous system, and motor, which Optic Nerve
transmits information from the central nervous Anatomy and Physiology of the Optic Nerve
system to effectors.1 Physiologically and functionally, the
Cranial nerves are a component of the optic nerve is part of the ganglion cell layer that
peripheral nervous system, which includes 12 fills the whole retina. Even between the eyes of
pairs of cranial nerve fibers. Cranial nerves the same individual, the length of the optic
have sensory, motor, and autonomic functions. nerve varies substantially, ranging between 35
The olfactory nerve (CN.1), optic nerve (CN. II), and 55 mm from the eyeball to the optic chiasm.
and vestibulocochlear nerve are cranial nerves Axons entering the optic disc keep the same
that operate as sensory nerves (CN. VIII). location as those in the retina; axons from the
Cranial motor nerves include the oculomotor superior retina enter both the superior and
nerve (CN III), the trochlear nerve (CN IV), the inferior portions of the optic disc. Axons from
abducens nerve (CN VI), the accessory nerve the papillomacular nerve fiber layer (NFL) enter
(CN VI), and the hypoglossal nerve (CN VI) (CN the middle portion, the temporal portion passes
XII). The trigeminal nerve (CN. V), facial nerve superior and inferior, and the nasal portion
(CN VII), glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), and enters the nasal portion. This conforms to the
vagus nerve (CN X) are the mixed-functioning arrangement of central and central, arcuate and
cranial nerves. 1,4 temporal visual field abnormalities.4
These nerves innervate the orbital The optic nerve crosses through the
cavity are CN II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII. CN III, IV, lamina cribrosa posterior to the discusopticus,
and VI are involved in muscle motor function. and the nerve fibers are covered by the
While CN V and CN VII are responsible for the meningeal sheaths posterior to the lamina
orbital structure's sensory function. The primary cribrosa (pia mater, arachnoid, and dura
function of CN II is visual information. The face mater). This configuration permits
sensory and motor muscles of mastication are cerebrospinal fluid to circulate quickly around
controlled by CN V. CN VII is responsible for the optic nerve and optic disc.4
face expressions. Certain disorders, such as
