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optic nerve
noun
: either of the second pair of cranial nerves that pass from the retina to the optic chiasma and conduct visual stimuli to the brain see eye illustration
Examples of optic nerve in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There is no cure, but if caught early enough, it can be controlled either by eye drops that reduce the pressure of fluid on the optic nerve or, in some cases, by laser surgery.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2024
This elevated pressure poses a risk of damaging the optic nerve, which relays visual information to the brain, leading to irreversible vision loss.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Mar. 2024
Those signals are sent by the optic nerve to the brain to create the image a person sees.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 31 Mar. 2024
The retina plays a critical role in the process of vision, converting light into neural signals that are then sent to the brain through the optic nerve.
—George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for optic nerve
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'optic nerve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1615, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near optic nerve
Cite this Entry
“Optic nerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optic%20nerve. Accessed 14 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
optic nerve
noun
: either of a pair of sensory nerves that are the second pair of cranial nerves and carry visual information from the retina of the eye to the brain
Medical Definition
optic nerve
noun
: either of the pair of sensory nerves that comprise the second pair of cranial nerves, arise from the ventral part of the diencephalon, form an optic chiasma before passing to the eye and spreading over the anterior surface of the retina, and conduct visual stimuli to the brain
called also second cranial nerve
More from Merriam-Webster on optic nerve
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about optic nerve
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