light reflex

 light is shone to the eye

 light is detected by photoreceptors esp rods
 ganglion there is already an action potential
 optic nerve
 optic disc
 optic chiasm – midbrain
o point where the Nasal part of the CNII decussate.
 optic tract
o right optic tract – right/ipsilateral temporal anf left/contralateral nasal optic nerve
fibers
o left optic netract - – right/ipsilateral temporal anf left/contralateral nasal optic nerve
fibers
 superior colliculus
 lateral geniculate body
 Pretectal nucleus of ipsilateral and contralateral sides
 Edinger Westphal of ipsilateral and contralateral sides
 oculomotor nerve of of ipsilateral and contralateral sides
 ciliary ganglion of of ipsilateral and contralateral sides
 short ciliary nerves
 sphincter pupillae
 pupillary constriction

Light travels through the cornea, anterior chamber, pupil, lens, and the posterior chamber, eventually
reaching the retina. Photoreceptor cells in the outer layers of the retina, which are called rods and
cones, convert light stimuli into neuronal impulses. These signals are then relayed to the bipolar cells,
which interact with ganglion cells, which in turn coalesce to form the optic disc and optic nerve (CN II).

The optic nerve then forms the optic chiasm, which diverges into a left and right optic tract. At the optic
chiasm, nasal retinal fibers will cross to the contralateral side of the optic tract, and the temporal retinal
fibers continue on the ipsilateral side. Thus, the right optic tract will contain temporal retinal fibers from
the right eye, as well as nasal retinal fibers from the left eye. The optic tracts join the brachium of the
superior colliculus, and then signals travel to the pretectal area of the midbrain. Each pretectal area
sends bilateral signals to the preganglionic parasympathetic nuclei in the midbrain called Edinger-
Westphal nuclei.[2][3] There are a minority of axons that go to the hypothalamus and the olivary
pretectal nucleus (OPN).[4] Efferent parasympathetic preganglionic fibers travel on the oculomotor
nerve and synapse with the ciliary ganglion, which sends postganglionic axons to directly innervate the
iris sphincter muscles. The contraction of the iris sphincter muscles leads to pupillary constriction
(miosis).[3] This extensive pathway is being tested when a light is shined in the eyes. And, because of the
crossing fibers, there is not only a direct pupillary reflex but also a consensual pupillary light reflex. Of
note, the pupillary dark reflex involves a separate pathway, which ends with sympathetic fibers from
long ciliary nerves innervating the dilator pupillae muscle.