The history of optic chiasm from antiquity to the twentieth century

Abstract

PurposeThe optic chiasm is an essential structure located at the skull base that stirred over time the curiosity of anatomists, who became more and more interested in its structure and function. Through centuries, the optic chiasm was viewed as a vessel crossing, a way of transporting tears secreted by the brain to the eye, integrating images, or responsible for coordinated eye movements. The paper aims to overview the history of understanding the optic chiasm from the beginnings of antiquity to the twentieth century.MethodsWe reviewed the literature and studied all the historical sources on optic chiasm and eyes in the works of ancient, medieval, Renaissance authors, and the seventeenth to nineteenth century works.ResultsThe optic chiasm is a structure that fascinated ancient anatomists and made them develop various theories on its function. In terms of function, the optic chiasm had a history based more on speculation, the seventeenth century bringing its first understanding and reaching the peak in the nineteenth century with the understanding of the anatomical structure of the chiasm and its role in the visual process.ConclusionThe history of the optic chiasm is a fascinating time travel displaying the conceptual transformations that have been made in anatomy and medicine by our forerunners.

Updates of Ocular Prostheses. A review of biomaterials and design in anophthalmic socket

“…Once with the anatomical descriptions and the understanding of eye anatomy and visual ways, which prevailed during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries [23], the first enucleation was made, credited to Georg Bartisch (1535-1607) ( fig.1) and published in his Augendienst in Dresden, in 1583 [24].…”

Optic Chiasm Morphometric Changes in Multiple Sclerosis: Feasibility of a Simplified Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measure of White Matter Atrophy

“…The history of the OC from antiquity to current times has been reviewed by Costea et al () recently. Galen (129–216) identified the OC, a term originating from the Greek khiasma , meaning two structures arranged crosswise, which itself is derived from the letter chi or χ (Paluzzi et al, ; Davis et al, ).…”

Rufus of Ephesus: a historical perspective on his contributions to neuroanatomy

“…He used primates for dissection under culturally restricted circumstances. [23,24] In terms of anatomical features, he selected primates that sig-nificantly corresponded to humans, and dissected animals from head to toe (capite ad calcem) in parallel with inspection. To compare anatomy with the exterior parts of the body, he used a slave as a human model.…”

“…He comprehensively clarified the lateral, third and fourth ventricles along with the aqueduct of the midbrain. [23,31] However, Rufus is presumed to cause the misinterpretation that the pia is present in the lateral and third ventricles, but not in the fourth. [30] Rufus was one of the first to refer to the hypothalamic part of the third ventricle by the term "infundibulum".…”