Medicine & USMLE

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN)

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Thalamic Nuclei
  1. Ventral Posterolateral (VPL) Nucleus
  2. Ventral Posteromedial (VPM) Nucleus
  3. Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN)
  4. Medial Geniculate Nucleus (MGN)
  5. Ventral Lateral (VL) Nucleus

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN)

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Summary

The Lateral Geniculate Nucleus, often abbreviated as the LGN or otherwise known as the lateral geniculate body, is a nucleus located inside the thalamus. This nucleus acts as a sensory relay, taking in visual information from the optic nerve, and sending out this visual information to the primary visual cortex of the brain.

Key Points

  • Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN)
    • Also known as the Lateral Geniculate Body
    • Location
      • Thalamus
        • Major relay for most sensory and motor information
    • Input
      • Vision
        • from Optic Nerve (CN II)
          • After optic chiasm via optic tract
    • Destination
      • Primary visual cortex
        • Via ipsilateral optic radiations to ipsilateral PVC in occipital lobe