Boost your ophthalmology MCQ preparation with 40 important Visual Pathway MCQs covering the optic nerve, optic chiasma, optic tract, LGN, optic radiations, and visual cortex. Each question is carefully selected for NEET PG, INI-CET, AIIMS, and FMGE exams. Learn key concepts like optic nerve anatomy, visual field defects, homonymous hemianopia, macular sparing, and more. Practice now on MCQ Zone — your trusted platform for medical MCQs. please visit our Index Page to finde topic wise ophthalmology mcq and optometry mcq
1. The visual pathway begins from:
A. Cornea
B. Retina
C. Lens
D. Iris
View Answer
B. Retina ✅ Exp: Retina perceives light and initiates pathway.
2. Visual pathway ends in:
A. Thalamus
B. Occipital cortex
C. Superior colliculus
D. Pons
View Answer
B. Occipital cortex ✅ 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
View Answer
C. Ganglion 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
View Answer
A. 35 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
View Answer
B. 1.5 mm ✅ Exp: Intraocular portion ≈ 1.5 mm.
Optic Nerve Segments ophthalmology MCQ
6. Intraorbital part of optic nerve measures:
A. 20 mm
B. 25 mm
C. 30 mm
D. 35 mm
View Answer
A. 20 mm ✅ Exp: Orbital segment ≈ 20 mm.
7. Intracanalicular part length:
A. 2 mm
B. 4–10 mm
C. 12 mm
D. 15 mm
View Answer
B. 4–10 mm ✅ Exp: In optic canal ≈ 4–10 mm.
8. Intracranial part length:
A. 5 mm
B. 10 mm
C. 15 mm
D. 20 mm
View Answer
A. 5 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
View Answer
B. All three meninges ✅ 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
View Answer
B. Subarachnoid space continuity ✅ Exp: CSF pressure transmitted via subarachnoid space.
Optic Chiasma
11. Optic chiasma is located above:
A. Pituitary gland
B. Pons
C. Midbrain
D. Cerebellum
View Answer
A. Pituitary gland ✅ 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
View Answer
B. Nasal retinal fibres ✅ Exp: Only nasal fibres decussate.
13. Percentage of fibres crossing at chiasma:
A. 30%
B. 50%
C. 70%
D. 90%
View Answer
B. 50% ✅ Exp: About half fibres cross.
14. Lesion at optic chiasma leads to:
A. Central scotoma
B. Bitemporal hemianopia
C. Homonymous hemianopia
D. Quadrantanopia
View Answer
B. Bitemporal hemianopia ✅ Exp: Crossing nasal fibres → temporal field loss.
15. Pituitary adenoma commonly produces:
A. Homonymous hemianopia
B. Bitemporal hemianopia
C. Binasal hemianopia
D. Central scotoma
View Answer
B. Bitemporal hemianopia ✅ 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
View Answer
C. Ipsilateral temporal + contralateral nasal ✅ 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
View Answer
B. Homonymous hemianopia ✅ Exp: Loss of contralateral field.
18. Lateral geniculate body belongs to:
A. Thalamus
B. Midbrain
C. Pons
D. Medulla
View Answer
A. Thalamus ✅ Exp: LGN = thalamic relay.
19. LGN layers are:
A. 2
B. 4
C. 6
D. 8
View Answer
C. 6 ✅ 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
View Answer
A. 1 and 2 ✅ 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
View Answer
B. Optic radiations ✅ Exp: LGN → optic radiations.
22. Optic radiations are also called:
A. Geniculocalcarine tract
B. Spinocortical tract
C. Retinotectal tract
D. Corticospinal tract
View Answer
A. Geniculocalcarine tract ✅ Exp: Geniculocalcarine = optic radiations.
23. Meyer’s loop carries fibres from:
A. Inferior retina
B. Superior retina
C. Nasal retina only
D. Macula
View Answer
A. Inferior retina ✅ 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
View Answer
A. Superior quadrantanopia ✅ Exp: “Pie in the sky” defect.
25. Fibres in parietal lobe represent:
A. Superior retina
B. Inferior retina
C. Nasal retina
D. Temporal retina
View Answer
A. Superior 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
View Answer
A. Calcarine 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
View Answer
B. Area 17 ✅ 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
View Answer
B. Central part of optic nerve ✅ Exp: Centrally located in optic nerve.
29. Cortical magnification is greatest for:
A. Periphery
B. Macula
C. Optic disc
D. Iris
View Answer
B. Macula ✅ 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
View Answer
B. Areas 18 and 19 ✅ Exp: 18,19 = interpretation.
31. Lesion of optic nerve causes:
A. Central scotoma
B. Bitemporal hemianopia
C. Homonymous hemianopia
D. Quadrantanopia
View Answer
A. Central scotoma ✅ 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
View Answer
B. Chiasmal lesion involving one optic nerve ✅ 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
View Answer
A. Homonymous hemianopia ✅ Exp: LGN lesion → contralateral field defect.
34. Bilateral occipital lobe lesion leads to:
A. Cortical blindness
B. Central scotoma
C. Binasal hemianopia
D. Quadrantanopia
View Answer
A. Cortical blindness ✅ Exp: No visual perception despite intact eyes.
35. Papilledema is seen in:
A. Raised intracranial pressure
B. Hypotension
C. Diabetes
D. Cataract
View Answer
A. Raised intracranial pressure ✅ 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
View Answer
A. Optic neuritis ✅ Exp: Optic neuritis damages central fibres.
37. Homonymous hemianopia indicates lesion:
A. Optic chiasma
B. Optic tract or beyond
C. Optic nerve
D. Cornea
View Answer
B. Optic tract or beyond ✅ Exp: Lesions posterior to chiasma.
38. Quadrantanopia is due to lesion of:
A. Optic nerve
B. Optic radiations
C. Chiasma
D. Retina
View Answer
B. Optic radiations ✅ 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
View Answer
B. Cortical 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
View Answer
A. Dual blood supply from MCA + PCA ✅ Exp: Macula has collateral blood supply.
Understanding the visual pathway is essential for cracking ophthalmology exams and building a clear concept of how vision travels from the retina to the visual cortex. These 40 MCQs cover every crucial step from the optic nerve and chiasma to LGN and cortical processing helping you strengthen both your knowledge and exam readiness.
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