Lateral Geniculate Body - Dorsal Thalamus

Lateral Geniculate Body

This nucleus (C1) lies somewhat isolated at the ventrocaudal aspect of the thalamus and is a relatively independent structure. It shows stratification into six cell layers which are separated by the afferent fiber bundles of the optic tract. Crossed and un-crossed optic fibers terminate in a regular arrangement in each of the two geniculate nuclei. In the left lateral genicu-late body, the temporal half of the retina of the left eye and the nasal half of the retina of the right eye are represented; in the right lateral geniculate body, the temporal half of the retina of the right eye and the nasal half of the retina of the left eye are represented. The fibers from the macula, which is the region of greatest visual acuity, termi-nate in a central wedge-shaped area, which extends through all cell layers. The neurons of the lateral geniculate nu-cleus send their axons to the visual cortex, the striate area (C2) at the medial hemispheric surface of the occipital lobe (central optic radiation or occipitothalamicradiation).