Occipital lobe

Occipital Lobe

The Occipital Lobe (pronunciation: /ɒkˈsɪpɪtəl loʊb/) is one of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex in the brain of mammals.

Etymology

The term "occipital" comes from the Latin occiput which means "back of the skull". The occipital lobe is named for its position at the back of the brain.

Function

The primary role of the occipital lobe is to process visual information. It contains the primary visual cortex, which receives and interprets information from the retinas of the eyes.

Anatomy

The occipital lobe is located at the posterior region of the cerebral cortex, behind the parietal lobe and temporal lobe. It is separated from the parietal lobe by the parieto-occipital sulcus.

Related Terms

Cerebral cortex: The outer layer of the cerebrum, composed of folded grey matter, playing an important role in consciousness.
Parietal lobe: One of the four major lobes of the brain, the parietal lobe plays a key role in sensory perception and integration, including the management of taste, hearing, sight, touch, and smell.
Temporal lobe: The temporal lobe is involved in processing sensory input into derived meanings for the appropriate retention of visual memory, language comprehension, and emotion association.
Parieto-occipital sulcus: The parieto-occipital sulcus is a deep sulcus in the lateral surface of the occipital lobe that marks the border between the parietal and occipital lobes.