Optic radiation

Optic radiation
Colour-coded diagram showing radiations in quadrants from retinal disc through the brain
Tractography showing optic radiation
Details
SystemVisual system
FunctionVision
Identifiers
Latinradiatio optica
NeuroNames1440
TA98A14.1.08.673
A14.1.09.542
A14.1.09.547
TA25584
FMA61941
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

In neuroanatomy, the optic radiation (also known as the geniculocalcarine tract, the geniculostriate pathway, and posterior thalamic radiation) are axons from the neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus to the primary visual cortex. The optic radiation receives blood through deep branches of the middle cerebral artery and posterior cerebral artery.

They carry visual information through two divisions (called upper and lower division) to the visual cortex (also called striate cortex) along the calcarine fissure. There is one set of upper and lower divisions on each side of the brain. If a lesion only exists in one unilateral division of the optic radiation, the consequence is called quadrantanopia, which implies that only the respective superior or inferior quadrant of the visual field is affected. If both divisions on one side of the brain are affected, the result is a contralateral homonymous hemianopsia.