What it means
One of the four lobes of each half of the cerebrum, sitting at the back of the skull. It holds the main vision area of the brain. Damage from a stroke, tumor or blow to the back of the head can cause loss of part of the field of vision, or trouble recognizing what is seen, even when the eyes themselves are healthy.
For the nurse
After a head injury or stroke, ask about blurred vision, double vision or missing parts of the visual field. A client with field loss on one side needs objects placed on the side they can see, and teaching to turn the head to scan.
At a glance
| Spanish | lóbulo occipital |
|---|---|
| Also written | occipital lobes |
Related terms
central nervous system
The brain and the spinal cord together.
cerebrum
The largest part of the brain, made of two halves, that handles thinking, memory, language, sensation and voluntary movement.
frontal
Relating to the front of the body, or to the forehead and the bone or brain area behind it.