THE SIZE AND GROWTH OF THE HUMAN OPTIC NERVE

Abstract

The cross-sectional square areas of fixed intracranial sections of optic nerves from 210 patients were measured and growth curves charted. From birth until the age of 4 years major growth occurs and the nerves increase in thickness. It was found that fixation produced an overall shrinkage to the extent of 12.3%. Optic nerves from brains of 26 patients with optic atrophy showed that very severe abnormalities can be detected from 3 to 4 years and beyond, because the ranges of comparative groups differ significantly.