The lateral geniculate nucleus of Thalamus - Neuroanatomy
Lateral geniculate nucleus (Corpus geniculatum laterale) The lateral geniculate nucleus is located within the lateral geniculate body. The body is an ovoid projection from the posterior thalamus. The nucleus consists of six to eight laminae, which are separated by interlaminar zones. The laminae are located terminally on the optic tract and receive information from the ganglionic cell layer of the retina of both eyes. The communicating fibers entering and leaving the lateral geniculate nucleus are as follows: Contralateral nasal hemiretina to laminae 1,4 and 6 (afferent) Ipsilateral temporal hemiretina to laminae 2,3 and 5 (afferent) Area 17 of primary visual cortex (efferent) Extrastriate visual areas in the occipital lobe (efferent) The lateral geniculate nucleus is responsible for vision.