<P> The optic nerve , also known as cranial nerve II , is a paired nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain . In humans , the optic nerve is derived from optic stalks during the seventh week of development and is composed of retinal ganglion cell axons and glial cells ; it extends from the optic disc to the optic chiasma and continues as the optic tract to the lateral geniculate nucleus , pretectal nuclei , and superior colliculus . </P>
ganglion axons forming the optic nerve run to the
optic chiasma