Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What is the primary function of the optic nerves?

1. Producing images

2. Conducting visual information to the brain

3. Controlling eye movement

4. Filtering light

The correct answer is: Conducting visual information to the brain

The primary function of the optic nerves is to conduct visual information to the brain. The optic nerves are crucial pathways that carry signals generated by the retina, where light is converted into electrical impulses. These impulses are then transmitted from the retina through the optic nerves to the visual cortex in the brain, where the information is processed and interpreted as images. This process is essential for vision, as it enables us to perceive and understand the visual world around us. Other options do not accurately reflect the primary role of the optic nerves. Producing images pertains to the function of the eye's lens and retina, which focus light and create images, rather than the optic nerves themselves. Controlling eye movement is primarily managed by the ocular muscles and nerves that innervate them, not the optic nerves. Similarly, filtering light involves structures like the cornea, lens, and iris, rather than the optic nerves, which are dedicated to transmitting visual information.