Lateral geniculate body

The lateral geniculate body is a subnucleus of the thalamus. The lateral geniculate body is located in the diencephalon lateral to the medial geniculate body and consists of a dorsal and ventral nucleus. The axons of retinal ganglion cells carrying visual impulses synapse in the lateral geniculate body. The lateral geniculate body can also be involved in closed head injuries where nerve fibres from the visual pathway can be sheared and avulsion may occur at the lateral geniculate body. Varying types of visual field defects occur with lesions of the lateral geniculate body dependent on the extent and nature of the lesion and the area of lateral geniculate body involved. The involvement of central fixation can aid differential diagnosis of a lateral geniculate body lesion from optic disc lesions which typically spare central fixation. Retinal nerve fibres originating from inferior, central and superior retina are essentially located laterally, centrally and medially, respectively, in the lateral geniculate body.