optic chiasm
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8.6
- noun
- /ˈɑptɪk ˈkaɪæzəm/
- Specialized
- Our search of the English-language literature identified only one report of a venous hemangioma occurring at the optic chiasm.
Examples
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Damage to the optic chiasm can lead to vision problems, as it affects how the brain processes visual information.
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Could be hidden in his optic chiasm.
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But the good news is it's normally pushing up against the optic chiasm.
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It's sitting just above this optic chiasm in this area called the suprachiasmatic nuclei.
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There's the big optic chiasm in human right there and this little funnel shape.
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I'm quite certain, also, that the optic chiasm has deteriorated somewhat... ...due to a weak ipsilateral component.
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The visual signals from both eyes meet and cross at the optic chiasm before traveling to the brain.
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Surgeons must be careful during procedures near the optic chiasm to avoid impacting a patient's sight.
Synonyms
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9.9
A place where two nerves cross in an X shape
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9.9
An X-shaped place where two nerve fibers or chromosomes cross
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8.2
An X-shaped part at the base of the brain where the nerves from the two eyes cross
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9.6
A place at the base of the brain where the nerves from the two eyes cross
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning follows directly from 'optic' (relating to vision) plus 'chiasm' (an X-shaped anatomical crossing): together they literally denote the X-shaped crossing of optic nerves. Although technical, the compound is compositionally transparent and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.
Etymology
Optic chiasm gets its name from its parts: optic means 'eye' and chiasm comes from the word 'chi', the name of a letter that looks like an 'X'. The name gives a clear picture: the nerves from each eye meet and cross in an X shape there, so the term means the X-shaped place where the optic nerves cross to send sight signals to the brain.