Detailed illustration of the visual field representation along the visual pathway to the primary visual cortex: a graphical summary.
OBJECTIVE
In the literature, different graphic illustrations are available, which depict different parts of the visual pathway in relation to visual field sectors, to retinal sectors, the layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), or sections of the primary visual cortex (V1). However, a complete overview is missing, which may be useful for a more precise differentiation of predominantly ophthalmological from intracerebral diseases. It may also be of interest to investigate additional intracerebral reasons that are involved in impaired vision of largely unknown pathophysiology.


METHODS
This work combines the scientific knowledge of partial graphics in one detailed illustration that allows exact follow-up of the neuronal connections from individual visual field sectors to the V1 areas. A selective search for peer-reviewed graphics of the visual pathway was performed in PubMed and Google Pictures.


RESULTS
Sixteen different visual field sectors and their 16 corresponding retinal sectors were set in relation to 64 LGN sections and 20 areas of V1. Segmented cross-sectional areas of the optic nerve supplemented the graphical representation of the fiber orientation in relation to the visual field.


CONCLUSIONS
The detailed illustration of the visual field projection along the visual pathway structures may facilitate a more precise calculation of correlations between morphological and functional measurements of ophthalmological and neuroradiological examinations.
Department of Ophthalmology, University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Simone
S
Wärntges
Georg
G
Michelson
D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008488:Medical Illustration; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D014794:Visual Fields; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology