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Medical Definition of Tractus opticus
1. The continuation of the optic nerve fibres beyond (behind) the latter's hemidecussation in the optic chiasm; each of the two symmetrical optic tracts is composed of fibres originating from the temporal half of the retina of the ipsilateral eye and a nearly equal number of fibres from the nasal half of the contralateral retina; it forms a compact, somewhat flattened fibre band passing caudolaterally alongside the base of the hypothalamus and over the basal surface of the crus cerebri; most of its fibres terminate in the lateral geniculate body; a smaller number of fibres enter the brachium of the superior colliculus, to terminate in the superior colliculus and the pretectal region. Synonym: tractus opticus. (05 Mar 2000)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Tractus Opticus
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