Question

Select all that apply

Where does the optic nerve (cranial nerve II) terminate?
a) Retina
b) Thalamus
c) Midbrain
d) Cornea

Answer 1

The optic nerve terminates in the thalamus at the lateral geniculate nucleus and in the superior colliculus of the midbrain. It does not terminate in the retina or cornea.

Step-by-step explanation:

The optic nerve (cranial nerve II) is a crucial part of the visual system that carries sensory information from the retina to the brain. After the optic nerve fibers cross at the optic chiasm, they become known as the optic tract. The optic tract terminates primarily in the thalamus, specifically targeting the lateral geniculate nucleus.

From there, the visual information is relayed to the visual cortex of the cerebrum. Another destination of the optic tract is the superior colliculus in the midbrain, which is involved in reflexive eye movements and visual attention. The retina, being the origin point of the optic nerve fibers, is not a termination point, and the cornea is a refractive structure of the eye and not involved with nerve signal transmission.