Morphometric analysis of the fascicular organisation of the optic nerve

Miroslav Radunović; Zdravko Vitošević; Mila Ćetković; Aleksandra Vuksanović-Božarić; Nemanja Radojević; Miodrag Radunović

doi:10.2298/4502

Miroslav Radunović Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro
Zdravko Vitošević Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Mila Ćetković Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Aleksandra Vuksanović-Božarić Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro
Nemanja Radojević Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro
Miodrag Radunović Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/4502

Keywords: optic nerve, autopsy, microscopy, anatomy,

Abstract

Background/Aim. The optic nerve is anatomically observed in four segments: intrabulbar, orbital, canalicular, and cranial. According to the literature, the surface of the transversal cut of the nerve is different through it. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fascicular organisation of the optic nerve, throughout its three segments from the eye. Methods. Five pairs of optic nerves, obtained from the autopsies were examined. Using Heidenhain's (azan) staining, the cuts were prepared for microscopy. Morphometric analysis was performed using the stereological methods for morphometric cytology – the Weible’s testing system M42. The following measures were established: the surface of the transverse cut of the nerve, the entire surface of fasciculi, the entire surface of connective tissue and blood vessels, the number of fasciculi, the surface of a single fasciculus. Results. The surface of the transverse cut of the nerve was found to grow from the orbital to the cranial segment, as well as the entire surface of fasciculi. While their number is significantly lower in the cranial segment, the number of fasciculi varied slightly between the orbital and the canalicular segment. The surface of a single fasciculus grows from the bulb to the chiasma. There is probable a cause to believe that this may be due to fusion of the “small” fasciculi in the orbitocranial direction. Conclusion. There are significant differences among the examined parameters of the different parts of the optic nerve.

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