Editing Lateral geniculate nucleus (section)

{{short description|Component of the visual system in the brain's thalamus}}
{{Redirect|LGN}}
{{Infobox brain
| Name            = Lateral geniculate nucleus
| Latin           = corpus geniculatum laterale
| Image           = Gray719.png
| Caption         = [[Hindbrain|Hind-]] and [[mid-brain]]s; postero-lateral view. (Lateral geniculate body visible near top.)
| Image2          =
| Caption2        =
| IsPartOf        = [[Thalamus]]
| System          = [[Visual system|Visual]]
| Components      =
| Artery          = [[Anterior choroidal artery|Anterior choroidal]] and [[Posterior cerebral artery|Posterior cerebral]]
| Vein            = [[Terminal vein]]
| Acronym         = LGN
}}

In [[neuroanatomy]], the '''lateral geniculate nucleus''' ('''LGN'''; also called the '''lateral geniculate body''' or '''lateral geniculate complex''') is a structure in the [[thalamus]] and a key component of the mammalian [[visual pathway]]. It is a small, ovoid, [[Anatomical terms of location#Dorsal_and_ventral|ventral]] projection of the thalamus where the thalamus connects with the [[optic nerve]]. There are two LGNs, one on the left and another on the right side of the thalamus. In humans, both LGNs have six layers of [[neuron]]s ([[grey matter]]) alternating with optic fibers ([[white matter]]).

The LGN receives information directly from the ascending [[retinal ganglion cell]]s via the optic tract and from the [[reticular activating system]]. Neurons of the LGN send their axons through the [[optic radiation]], a direct pathway to the [[primary visual cortex]]. In addition, the LGN receives many strong feedback connections from the primary [[visual cortex]].<ref name=Cudeiro2006>{{cite journal|last=Cudeiro|first=Javier|author2=Sillito, Adam M. |title=Looking back: corticothalamic feedback and early visual processing|journal=Trends in Neurosciences|year=2006|pages=298–306|volume=29|issue=6|pmid=16712965|doi=10.1016/j.tins.2006.05.002|citeseerx=10.1.1.328.4248|s2cid=6301290}}</ref> In [[humans]] as well as other [[mammals]], the two strongest pathways linking the eye to the brain are those projecting to the dorsal part of the LGN in the thalamus, and to the [[superior colliculus]].<ref>Goodale, M. & Milner, D. (2004)''Sight unseen.''Oxford University Press, Inc.: New York.</ref>