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optic nerve

(OP-tik nerv)
The nerve that carries messages from the retina to the brain.
Eye anatomy; two-panel drawing showing the outside and inside of the eye. The top panel shows the outside of the eye, including the eyelid, pupil, sclera, and iris. The bottom panel shows the inside of the eye, including the cornea, lens, ciliary body, retina, choroid, optic nerve, and vitreous humor.Enlarge this image in new window
Anatomy of the eye showing the outside and inside of the eye, including the eyelid, pupil, sclera, iris, cornea, lens, ciliary body, retina, choroid, optic nerve, and vitreous humor.
Drawing of the inside of the brain showing ventricles (fluid-filled spaces), choroid plexus, hypothalamus, pineal gland, pituitary gland, optic nerve, brain stem, cerebellum, cerebrum, medulla, pons, and spinal cord.Enlarge this image in new window
Anatomy of the inside of the brain, showing the pineal and pituitary glands, optic nerve, ventricles (with cerebrospinal fluid shown in blue), and other parts of the brain.
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