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Glite Dictionary
nervus opticus

nervus opticus

7.5
The nerve that carries sight messages from the eye to the brain
  • noun
  • /ˈnɜrvəs ˈɒptɪkəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : nervio óptico
  • Damage to the nervus opticus can lead to partial or complete loss of vision.

Examples

  • The surgeon carefully traced the nervus opticus during the procedure to avoid injury.

  • Diseases that affect the nervus opticus are studied by neuro-ophthalmologists.

  • The nervus opticus is crucial for vision.

  • The nervi optici transmit signals from the retina.

  • Damage to the nervus opticus can lead to partial or complete loss of vision.

  • The surgeon carefully traced the nervus opticus during the procedure to avoid injury.

  • Diseases that affect the nervus opticus are studied by neuro-ophthalmologists.

Synonyms

optic nerve
vsnervus opticus
  • Specialized
9 3.7

Part at the back of the eye that carries images to the brain

is the same meaning but uses a different common label
second cranial nerve
vsnervus opticus
  • Specialized
5.1

The nerve that carries visual signals from the eye to the brain

is identical in sense but uses anatomical numbering as its label

Surface Forms

nervus opticus singular
nervi optici plural

Morphology

nervus + opticus

The term is a straightforward Latin compound of 'nervus' (nerve) and 'opticus' (related to sight/optic), so the meaning 'optic nerve' is directly derivable from the constituents. This compositional medical/anatomical naming pattern is cross‑linguistically familiar (cognates in many languages), making it immediately understandable to learners who know both parts.

Etymology

Nervus opticus is a Latin name made of nervus and opticus. nervus means 'nerve' and opticus means 'of sight', so the name paints the image of a 'sight nerve' that carries messages from the eye to the brain and names the optic nerve.