Final answer:
The optic nerve connects the retina to the brain and carries visual information. Visual information from the left and right visual fields is processed on opposite sides of the brain. Axons from the medial side of the retina decussate at the optic chiasm, while axons from the lateral side of the retina do not decussate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The connections of the optic nerve are more complicated than those of other cranial nerves. Visual information is segregated between the left and right sides of the visual field. The axons projecting from the medial side of the retina of one eye cross over to the opposite side of the brain at the optic chiasm, while the axons from the lateral side of the retina of the same eye project back to the same side of the brain. This arrangement allows for the left field of view of each eye to be processed on the right side of the brain, and the right field of view of each eye to be processed on the left side of the brain.