The visual pathway--functional anatomy and pathology

Abstract

Visual failure of any kind is a common clinical presentation and indication for neuroimaging. Monocular deficits should concentrate the search to the anterior (prechiasmatic) visual pathway. Bitemporal hemianopia suggests a chiasmatic cause, whereas retrochiasmatic lesions characteristically cause homonymous hemianopic defects. Quadrantanopias usually arise from lesions in the optic radiations. Disorders of visual perception can be broadly divided into "where" and "what" problems caused by lesions in the parietal and temporal lobes, respectively, and their associated white matter tracts. Visualization of the retrochiasmatic visual and visual association pathways is aided by diffusion tensor imaging.