Morphology study of blood supply to optic tract and its clinical significance

Objective: To provide morphological evidences for visual field defect caused by optic tract ischemia. Methods: The origins, numbers, distributions and pathological changes of optic tract arteries of 90 sides' adult brain specimens were observed with micro-stereoscope and operating microscope, and the nutrient artery of optic tract of 60 sides aged from 50 to 70 were observed pathohistologically. Results: The blood supply to optic tract originated mainly from internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, anterior cerebral artery, posterior communicating artery and the branch of anterior choroidal artery, which distributed segmentally. 88.3% of these arteries in 60 sides had atherosclerosis. The optic tract arteries of 4 sides were completely blocked and 3 sides partly. Conclusion: Excluding other diseases, the temporary or consistent visual field defect in different degree of patients over 50 years old is caused possibly by atherosclerosis of the arteries at the base of the brain.