Organ
Occipital lobe
Cerebral cortex specialized for vision
High-yield
The upper calcarine bank represents the opposite lower visual field; the lower bank represents the opposite upper field. Central vision occupies a disproportionately large cortical area near the occipital pole.
Overview
At the back of each hemisphere, the occipital lobe lies above the tentorium. Primary visual cortex borders the calcarine sulcus on the medial surface. The cuneus lies above this sulcus and the lingual gyrus below it. Surrounding cortical areas carry visual processing beyond the initial cortical representation.
Reference facts
- Location
- Posterior cerebral hemisphere, behind the parieto-occipital boundary medially and above the tentorium.
- Parts
- Includes cuneus, lingual and lateral occipital regions, primary visual cortex (area 17) and adjacent visual association areas.
- Blood supply
- Predominantly posterior cerebral arterial branches, including calcarine and parieto-occipital branches; MCA contribution near the pole varies.
- Relations
- The tentorium separates it from the cerebellum. The posterior horn of the lateral ventricle extends into its deep white matter.
- Function
- Processes information from the opposite visual hemifield and contributes to wider networks for recognizing and locating visual objects.
Clinical correlation
An occipital lesion can remove part or all of the opposite visual hemifield in both eyes. Central vision may be spared when occipital-pole tissue survives, sometimes through variable MCA supply. Extensive bilateral injury can cause cortical blindness; a subset of patients lack awareness of the blindness (Anton syndrome).
Frequently asked questions
Where is the occipital lobe located?
Posterior cerebral hemisphere, behind the parieto-occipital boundary medially and above the tentorium.
What does the occipital lobe do?
Processes information from the opposite visual hemifield and contributes to wider networks for recognizing and locating visual objects.
What are the parts of the occipital lobe?
Includes cuneus, lingual and lateral occipital regions, primary visual cortex (area 17) and adjacent visual association areas.
What is the blood supply of the occipital lobe?
Predominantly posterior cerebral arterial branches, including calcarine and parieto-occipital branches; MCA contribution near the pole varies.