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Bassett Collection of Stereoscopic Images of Human Anatomy

Microradiograph of eye; central optic pathways and related structures

Relations of optic pathways at base of brain.

Image #58A-5

KEYWORDS: Brain, Diencephalon, Eye, Face, Midbrain, Peripheral nervous system, Vasculature.

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Microradiograph of eye; central optic pathways and related structures
Relations of optic pathways at base of brain.
The specimen shown in the preceding photograph has been reoriented for this view so that the left orbit extends above and to the left of the area included in the photograph. The brain stem has been cut across through the rostral part of the mesencephalon. The left optic tract has been removed and the optic chiasm has been lifted slightly out of its normal position. The components of the arterial circle of Willis that are related to the optic pathways (i.e., internal carotid artery (6), anterior cerebral artery (5), anterior communicating artery (between 5 and 19, unlabeled), posterior communicating artery (8) and posterior cerebral artery (11)) remain in position.
  1. Olfactory tract (cut across)
  2. Inferior cerebral vein
  3. Ala parva ossis sphenoidalis (covered by dura)
  4. Medial cerebral artery (cut across)
  5. Left anterior cerebral artery
  6. Internal carotid artery
  7. Chiasmatic cistern
  8. Upper pointer: Anterior choroid artery (cut across) Lower pointer: Posterior communicating artery
  9. Optic tract (cut across and elevated)
  10. Oculomotor nerve (III)
  11. Posterior cerebral artery
  12. Central ramus of posterior cerebral artery
  13. Tributaries of the basal vein which passed into tip of inferior horn of lateral ventricle
  14. Substantia nigra
  15. Nucleus ruber
  16. Basal vein
  17. Cerebellar tentorium
  18. Continuation of main trunk of posterior cerebral artery
  19. Right anterior cerebral artery (anterior communicating artery partly obscured by optic chiasm)
  20. Falx cerebri
  21. Cingulate gyrus
  22. Pericallosal branch of anterior cerebral artery
  23. Anterior commissure
  24. Pars libera columnae fornicis
  25. Ventricular surface of hypothalamus
  26. Mamillary body (cut across)
  27. Intermediate mass
  28. Cerebral peduncle
  29. Internal cerebral veins
  30. Aditus ad aqueductum cerebri
  31. Posterior commissure
  32. Splenium corporis callosi
  33. [Legend above restored translation from Latin]