What is the name of the point where axons cross over in the visual pathway?

The point where axons cross over in the visual pathway is known as the optic chiasm. This structure is crucial because it allows visual information from both eyes to be processed by both hemispheres of the brain. When the optic nerves from each eye reach the optic chiasm, the fibers from the nasal (inner) halves of the retinas cross over to the opposite side of the brain, while the fibers from the temporal (outer) halves remain on the same side. This crossover ensures that visual information from the left visual field is interpreted by the right hemisphere and vice versa, facilitating depth perception and a more comprehensive visual field.

Other choices might refer to different components of the visual system; for instance, the optic disc is the point in the retina where the optic nerve begins and lacks photoreceptor cells, thus creating a blind spot. The optic nerve transmits visual signals from the retina to the brain but does not involve any crossing over, while the visual cortex is the area of the brain responsible for processing visual information, where the signals are ultimately interpreted. However, the optic chiasm is specifically identified for its role in the crossover of axons in the visual pathway.