Nerve
Optic nerve (CN II)
Sense of vision
High-yield
Purely sensory (vision); passes through the optic canal. Afferent limb of the pupillary light reflex.
Overview
The second cranial nerve, transmitting visual information from the retina through the optic canal to the brain; it is a CNS tract, not a true peripheral nerve.
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Reference facts
- Roots
- Special sensory (cranial nerve / CNS tract)
- Course
- Retinal ganglion cell axons leave the eye, pass through the optic canal, and partly decussate at the optic chiasm to the lateral geniculate nucleus
- Motor
- No motor supply - this nerve is purely sensory.
- Sensory
- Vision from the retina
Frequently asked questions
What type of nerve is the optic nerve (CN II)?
The optic nerve (CN II) is special sensory (cranial nerve / CNS tract).
What muscles does the optic nerve (CN II) supply?
No motor supply - this nerve is purely sensory.
What is the sensory distribution of the optic nerve (CN II)?
The optic nerve (CN II) carries sensation from the vision from the retina.
What is the course of the optic nerve (CN II)?
Retinal ganglion cell axons leave the eye, pass through the optic canal, and partly decussate at the optic chiasm to the lateral geniculate nucleus.