[Atlas of head anatomy in the neuro-ocular plane]

The "Atlas of cross-sectional orbito-cephalic anatomy in the neuro-ocular plane" does exist (now in press). The authors submit the main clinico-anatomical correlations observed. We will remind you that the "neuro-ocular plane" (N.O.P.) is defined as the C.T. plane of cephalic orientation comprising "both lenses, optic nerve heads and optic canals in the primary position of gaze". The more informative anatomical, radiological and anthropological data that could derive from the N.O.P. are stressed; first, we will evaluate the validity of our work and the problems we had while building the atlas; then we will describe briefly the position of this cephalic orientation plane as compared to other planes (specifically the anthropological baseline, the orbito-meatal line, the vestibular orientation etc...) previously described. Finally, we will end our discussion by giving the anatomical correlations obtained in the N.O.P.: this plane would best include all the visual pathways starting "from the cornea to the calcarine fissure"; it would also reflect the same orientation of the temporal horn of the lateral ventricle as well as the orientation of the lateral fissure. Much more, the orthogonality of this cephalic orientation to the direction of the brainstem is demonstrated, enhancing the accuracy of the three dimensional approach in the evaluation of the orbito-cephalic anatomy and diseases, as actually completed with C.T. and N.M.R. imaging, at the Centre National d'Ophtalmologie des XV-XX in Paris.