Practice 80 high-yield MCQs on the Visual Pathway Includes answers with short explanations for NEET PG, NEXT, AIIMS, and MRCSEd exam preparation.
General Anatomy
1. The visual pathway begins from:
A. Cornea
B. Retina ✅
C. Lens
D. Iris
Exp: Retina perceives light and initiates pathway.
2. Visual pathway ends in:
A. Thalamus
B. Occipital cortex ✅
C. Superior colliculus
D. Pons
Exp: Final interpretation in occipital cortex.
3. The optic nerve is formed by axons of:
A. Amacrine cells
B. Bipolar cells
C. Ganglion cells ✅
D. Horizontal cells
Exp: Ganglion cell axons → optic nerve.
4. Length of optic nerve is about:
A. 35 mm ✅
B. 40 mm
C. 25 mm
D. 50 mm
Exp: Average length ≈ 35 mm.
5. Portion of optic nerve within eyeball:
A. 1 mm
B. 1.5 mm ✅
C. 2 mm
D. 3 mm
Exp: Intraocular portion ≈ 1.5 mm.
Optic Nerve Segments
6. Intraorbital part of optic nerve measures:
A. 20 mm ✅
B. 25 mm
C. 30 mm
D. 35 mm
Exp: Orbital segment ≈ 20 mm.
7. Intracanalicular part length:
A. 2 mm
B. 4–10 mm ✅
C. 12 mm
D. 15 mm
Exp: In optic canal ≈ 4–10 mm.
8. Intracranial part length:
A. 5 mm ✅
B. 10 mm
C. 15 mm
D. 20 mm
Exp: Between optic canal and chiasma.
9. Optic nerve is surrounded by:
A. Only pia mater
B. All three meninges ✅
C. Dura + pia only
D. Arachnoid only
Exp: Like brain, optic nerve has dura, arachnoid, pia.
10. Raised ICP can cause papilledema due to:
A. Vitreous compression
B. Subarachnoid space continuity ✅
C. Venous congestion
D. Choroidal leakage
Exp: CSF pressure transmitted via subarachnoid space.
Optic Chiasma
11. Optic chiasma is located above:
A. Pituitary gland ✅
B. Pons
C. Midbrain
D. Cerebellum
Exp: Lies just above pituitary.
12. Which fibres cross in chiasma?
A. Temporal retinal fibres
B. Nasal retinal fibres ✅
C. Foveal fibres
D. All fibres
Exp: Only nasal fibres decussate.
13. Percentage of fibres crossing at chiasma:
A. 30%
B. 50% ✅
C. 70%
D. 90%
Exp: About half fibres cross.
14. Lesion at optic chiasma leads to:
A. Central scotoma
B. Bitemporal hemianopia ✅
C. Homonymous hemianopia
D. Quadrantanopia
Exp: Crossing nasal fibres → temporal field loss.
15. Pituitary adenoma commonly produces:
A. Homonymous hemianopia
B. Bitemporal hemianopia ✅
C. Binasal hemianopia
D. Central scotoma
Exp: Tumor compresses chiasma from below.
Optic Tracts & LGN
16. Optic tract carries fibres from:
A. Ipsilateral retina only
B. Contralateral retina only
C. Ipsilateral temporal + contralateral nasal ✅
D. Entire ipsilateral field
Exp: Each tract carries contralateral visual field.
17. Lesion of optic tract produces:
A. Central scotoma
B. Homonymous hemianopia ✅
C. Bitemporal hemianopia
D. Quadrantic scotoma
Exp: Loss of contralateral field.
18. Lateral geniculate body belongs to:
A. Thalamus ✅
B. Midbrain
C. Pons
D. Medulla
Exp: LGN = thalamic relay.
19. LGN layers are:
A. 2
B. 4
C. 6 ✅
D. 8
Exp: Six layers receive crossed and uncrossed fibres.
20. Magnocellular layers of LGN:
A. 1 and 2 ✅
B. 3 and 4
C. 5 and 6
D. 4,5,6
Exp: Layers 1 & 2 = magnocellular (motion).
Optic Radiations & Cortex
21. Fibres from LGN reach cortex via:
A. Internal capsule
B. Optic radiations ✅
C. Spinothalamic tract
D. Corticospinal tract
Exp: LGN → optic radiations.
22. Optic radiations are also called:
A. Geniculocalcarine tract ✅
B. Spinocortical tract
C. Retinotectal tract
D. Corticospinal tract
Exp: Geniculocalcarine = optic radiations.
23. Meyer’s loop carries fibres from:
A. Inferior retina ✅
B. Superior retina
C. Nasal retina only
D. Macula
Exp: Inferior retinal fibres → superior visual field.
24. Lesion of Meyer’s loop causes:
A. Superior quadrantanopia ✅
B. Inferior quadrantanopia
C. Bitemporal hemianopia
D. Central scotoma
Exp: “Pie in the sky” defect.
25. Fibres in parietal lobe represent:
A. Superior retina ✅
B. Inferior retina
C. Nasal retina
D. Temporal retina
Exp: Superior retina → inferior visual field.
Visual Cortex
26. Primary visual cortex is located around:
A. Calcarine sulcus ✅
B. Central sulcus
C. Sylvian fissure
D. Precentral sulcus
Exp: Area 17, occipital lobe.
27. Brodmann area of primary visual cortex:
A. Area 15
B. Area 17 ✅
C. Area 18
D. Area 19
Exp: Area 17 = striate cortex.
28. Macular fibres occupy:
A. Periphery of optic nerve
B. Central part of optic nerve ✅
C. Peripheral retina
D. Lateral geniculate body only
Exp: Centrally located in optic nerve.
29. Cortical magnification is greatest for:
A. Periphery
B. Macula ✅
C. Optic disc
D. Iris
Exp: Macula occupies large cortical area.
30. Visual association areas are:
A. Area 17
B. Areas 18 and 19 ✅
C. Area 4
D. Area 6
Exp: 18,19 = interpretation.
Applied/Clinical
31. Lesion of optic nerve causes:
A. Central scotoma ✅
B. Bitemporal hemianopia
C. Homonymous hemianopia
D. Quadrantanopia
Exp: Affects monocular vision.
32. Junctional scotoma occurs due to:
A. Optic tract lesion
B. Chiasmal lesion involving one optic nerve ✅
C. LGN lesion
D. Cortical lesion
Exp: Involves one eye + contralateral temporal field.
33. Lesion of LGN causes:
A. Homonymous hemianopia ✅
B. Central scotoma
C. Monocular blindness
D. Binasal field defect
Exp: LGN lesion → contralateral field defect.
34. Bilateral occipital lobe lesion leads to:
A. Cortical blindness ✅
B. Central scotoma
C. Binasal hemianopia
D. Quadrantanopia
Exp: No visual perception despite intact eyes.
35. Papilledema is seen in:
A. Raised intracranial pressure ✅
B. Hypotension
C. Diabetes
D. Cataract
Exp: Due to CSF pressure on optic disc.
36. Central scotoma is most commonly seen in:
A. Optic neuritis ✅
B. Cataract
C. Glaucoma
D. Retinal detachment
Exp: Optic neuritis damages central fibres.
37. Homonymous hemianopia indicates lesion:
A. Optic chiasma
B. Optic tract or beyond ✅
C. Optic nerve
D. Cornea
Exp: Lesions posterior to chiasma.
38. Quadrantanopia is due to lesion of:
A. Optic nerve
B. Optic radiations ✅
C. Chiasma
D. Retina
Exp: Partial optic radiation involvement.
39. Congruous visual field defects are more likely with:
A. Optic nerve lesions
B. Cortical lesions ✅
C. Chiasmal lesions
D. Retinal lesions
Exp: Higher lesions → more congruous defects.
40. Macular sparing in homonymous hemianopia occurs due to:
A. Dual blood supply from MCA + PCA ✅
B. Pituitary compression
C. Retinal redundancy
D. Optic disc circulation
Exp: Macula has collateral blood supply.
Optic Nerve – Details
41. Total number of fibres in optic nerve:
A. 0.5 million
B. 1.2 million ✅
C. 2 million
D. 0.8 million
Exp: Optic nerve has ~1.2 million axons.
42. Blood supply of optic nerve head is mainly from:
A. Central retinal artery
B. Short posterior ciliary arteries ✅
C. Long ciliary arteries
D. Angular artery
Exp: Optic disc supplied by SPCAs.
43. Macular fibres occupy which part of optic nerve?
A. Central ✅
B. Peripheral
C. Superior
D. Inferior
Exp: Macular fibres lie in centre.
44. Optic nerve sheaths are direct extensions of:
A. Orbit fascia
B. Cranial meninges ✅
C. Sclera
D. Periorbita
Exp: Dura, arachnoid, pia continue around nerve.
45. Which part of optic nerve is most vulnerable to raised ICP?
A. Intraorbital
B. Intraocular ✅
C. Intracanalicular
D. Intracranial
Exp: Optic disc shows papilledema.
Optic Chiasma – Applied
46. A lesion compressing centre of chiasma from below (pituitary tumor) →
A. Bitemporal hemianopia ✅
B. Binasal hemianopia
C. Central scotoma
D. Homonymous hemianopia
Exp: Affects crossing nasal fibres.
47. A lesion compressing lateral chiasma (aneurysm ICA) →
A. Binasal hemianopia ✅
B. Bitemporal hemianopia
C. Homonymous hemianopia
D. Central scotoma
Exp: Affects uncrossed temporal fibres.
48. Wilbrand’s knee is associated with:
A. Optic disc
B. Optic chiasma ✅
C. Optic radiation
D. LGN
Exp: Small bend of inferonasal fibres into contralateral nerve.
49. Junctional scotoma is due to lesion at:
A. Optic nerve-chiasma junction ✅
B. Optic tract
C. LGN
D. Occipital cortex
Exp: Produces monocular + contralateral temporal field defect.
50. Superior chiasmal compression (craniopharyngioma) →
A. Bitemporal hemianopia, worse inferiorly ✅
B. Central scotoma
C. Binasal hemianopia
D. Superior quadrantanopia
Exp: Superior chiasma fibres represent inferior fields.
Optic Tracts & LGN – Applied
51. Each optic tract carries information from:
A. Ipsilateral visual field
B. Contralateral visual field ✅
C. Ipsilateral eye
D. Temporal retina only
Exp: Each tract represents contralateral visual field.
52. Lesion of left optic tract →
A. Right homonymous hemianopia ✅
B. Left homonymous hemianopia
C. Bitemporal hemianopia
D. Central scotoma
Exp: Contralateral hemianopia.
53. LGN has how many layers?
A. 4
B. 6 ✅
C. 8
D. 10
Exp: Six layers in primates.
54. Ipsilateral eye fibres end in LGN layers:
A. 1, 2, 3 ✅
B. 4, 5, 6
C. 2, 4, 6
D. 1, 3, 5
Exp: Layers 2,3,5 = ipsilateral.
55. Contralateral eye fibres end in LGN layers:
A. 1, 2, 3
B. 4, 5, 6 ✅
C. 2, 3, 5
D. 1, 3, 5
Exp: Layers 1,4,6 = contralateral.
56. Parvocellular layers of LGN:
A. 1 and 2
B. 3, 4, 5, 6 ✅
C. 1 and 6
D. 2 and 3
Exp: Small cells = color and detail.
57. Magnocellular layers transmit:
A. Color
B. Motion & gross form ✅
C. Central vision
D. Foveal input
Exp: Layers 1 & 2 detect movement.
58. Lesion of LGN produces:
A. Homonymous hemianopia ✅
B. Binasal defect
C. Central scotoma
D. Monocular blindness
Exp: Contralateral visual field defect.
59. LGN sends fibres via:
A. Corticospinal tract
B. Optic radiations ✅
C. Spinothalamic tract
D. Tectospinal tract
Exp: LGN → primary visual cortex.
60. Retinotopic arrangement in LGN means:
A. Random connections
B. Spatial map of retina ✅
C. Crossing only
D. Central scotoma
Exp: Retinal points map onto LGN.
Optic Radiations – Applied
61. Fibres of inferior retina pass through:
A. Parietal lobe
B. Temporal lobe (Meyer’s loop) ✅
C. Occipital pole
D. Frontal lobe
Exp: Inferior retina → temporal loop.
62. Fibres of superior retina pass through:
A. Parietal lobe ✅
B. Temporal lobe
C. Occipital pole
D. Frontal lobe
Exp: Superior retina → parietal lobe.
63. Temporal lobe lesion produces:
A. Superior quadrantanopia ✅
B. Inferior quadrantanopia
C. Central scotoma
D. Binasal defect
Exp: “Pie in the sky” defect.
64. Parietal lobe lesion produces:
A. Inferior quadrantanopia ✅
B. Superior quadrantanopia
C. Bitemporal defect
D. Central scotoma
Exp: “Pie on the floor” defect.
65. Retinotopic mapping in visual cortex:
A. Fovea → occipital pole ✅
B. Periphery → occipital pole
C. Retina → frontal cortex
D. Macula → cerebellum
Exp: Foveal vision at occipital tip.
66. Macular fibres occupy large cortical area due to:
A. Large size of macula
B. Cortical magnification ✅
C. More blood vessels
D. Higher pressure
Exp: Macula has maximum cortical representation.
67. Lesion in upper bank of calcarine sulcus →
A. Inferior quadrantanopia ✅
B. Superior quadrantanopia
C. Bitemporal defect
D. Central scotoma
Exp: Upper bank = inferior field.
68. Lesion in lower bank of calcarine sulcus →
A. Superior quadrantanopia ✅
B. Inferior quadrantanopia
C. Central scotoma
D. Binasal defect
Exp: Lower bank = superior field.
69. Bilateral occipital lobe lesion →
A. Cortical blindness ✅
B. Central scotoma
C. Tunnel vision
D. Binasal hemianopia
Exp: Destruction of visual cortex.
70. Anton’s syndrome is:
A. Blindness with denial of blindness ✅
B. Blindness with hallucinations
C. Monocular blindness
D. Tunnel vision
Exp: Cortical blindness + denial.
Clinical Cases
71. Optic neuritis most often causes:
A. Central scotoma ✅
B. Bitemporal hemianopia
C. Tunnel vision
D. Quadrantanopia
Exp: Inflammation damages papillomacular bundle.
72. Glaucoma produces:
A. Arcuate scotoma ✅
B. Bitemporal hemianopia
C. Central scotoma
D. Tunnel vision initially
Exp: Damage to arcuate nerve fibres.
73. Tunnel vision is characteristic of:
A. Retinitis pigmentosa ✅
B. Optic neuritis
C. Glaucoma
D. Macular degeneration
Exp: Peripheral field loss first.
74. Macular sparing hemianopia is due to:
A. Dual blood supply (MCA + PCA) ✅
B. Redundant retinal fibres
C. Pituitary tumor
D. Myopia
Exp: Macula preserved by MCA collaterals.
75. Temporal hemianopia occurs due to:
A. Lesion at optic chiasma ✅
B. Optic tract lesion
C. Cortical lesion
D. Retina
Exp: Nasal fibres crossing affected.
76. Homonymous superior quadrantanopia is lesion of:
A. Temporal lobe ✅
B. Parietal lobe
C. Chiasma
D. Retina
Exp: Meyer’s loop involvement.
77. Homonymous inferior quadrantanopia is lesion of:
A. Parietal lobe ✅
B. Temporal lobe
C. Occipital pole
D. Chiasma
Exp: Parietal fibres → inferior field.
78. Complete lesion of optic nerve leads to:
A. Monocular blindness ✅
B. Bitemporal hemianopia
C. Homonymous hemianopia
D. Quadrantanopia
Exp: Whole eye affected.
79. Lesion at occipital pole →
A. Macular vision loss ✅
B. Peripheral vision loss
C. Binasal hemianopia
D. Central scotoma
Exp: Occipital pole represents macula.
80. Lesion sparing occipital pole →
A. Macular sparing ✅
B. Central scotoma
C. Monocular blindness
D. Arcuate scotoma
Exp: Occipital tip spared → macula intact.
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