optic nerve, nervus opticus, second cranial nerve, optic tract(noun)

the cranial nerve that serves the retina

optic nerve(Noun)

Either of a pair of nerves that carry visual information from the retina to the brain

Optic Nerve

The 2nd cranial nerve. The optic nerve conveys visual information from the retina to the brain. The nerve carries the axons of the retinal ganglion cells which sort at the optic chiasm and continue via the optic tracts to the brain. The largest projection is to the lateral geniculate nuclei; other important targets include the superior colliculi and the suprachiasmatic nuclei. Though known as the second cranial nerve, it is considered part of the central nervous system.