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optic nerve

(Science: anatomy, nerve) The optic nerve. The nerve carrying impulses for the sense of sight.

projection from the vertebrate retina to the midbrain. Embryologically, a cNS tract rather than a peripheral nerve. Popular experimental preparation for studies of regeneration of retino tectal projections in lower vertebrates and also for studies of glial cell lineage in CNS.

Synonym: cranial nerve II.