synbanor

Synbanor is a term used in Swedish-language neuroscience to denote the neural pathways that transmit visual information from the retina to the brain. The concept encompasses the major ascending tracts known to carry sight-relevant signals, including the optic nerve, the optic chiasm, the optic tract, the lateral geniculate nucleus, and the optic radiations to the primary visual cortex, as well as subcortical routes via the superior colliculus and pulvinar that contribute to eye movements and visual attention.

Function and organization: Signals originate in retinal ganglion cells, travel along the optic nerve, partially decussate at the optic chiasm, and proceed to the lateral geniculate nucleus before projecting to the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe. Parallel subcortical pathways support reflexive eye movements, orientation, and aspects of motion processing.

Development and variation: Synbanor form during embryonic development under the influence of axon guidance molecules. They exhibit plasticity across life, with refinement and adaptation following experience, injury, and learning. Comparative anatomy shows species-specific differences in tract timing and routing.

Clinical relevance: Lesions along the synbanor produce characteristic visual deficits. Damage to the optic nerve causes monocular blindness, chiasm injury can produce bitemporal hemianopia, and post-chiasmatic lesions may cause homonymous hemianopia. Neuroimaging, including MRI and diffusion tensor imaging, maps these pathways for diagnosis and planning.

Terminology: In many Swedish sources the term synbanor is used to describe visual pathways as a cohesive system. In English-language literature the equivalent terminology is typically “visual pathways” or “retinogeniculate pathway.”