What structure carries visual impulses from the retina to the brain?

The structure that carries visual impulses from the retina to the brain is the optic nerve. This is a crucial part of the visual pathway, as it transmits the electrical signals generated by photoreceptors in the retina when light hits them. The retina converts light into these signals, and the optic nerve serves as the conduit that sends this information to the visual cortex in the brain, where it is processed into the images we perceive.

The other options refer to different parts of the eye and its accessories. The lacrimal gland is responsible for producing tears, which help to lubricate the eye; the ciliary body is involved in the focusing of lenses and the production of aqueous humor; and the vitreous body is a gel-like substance that fills the space between the lens and the retina, contributing to the eye's shape but not involved in signal transmission. Understanding the specific roles of these structures highlights why the optic nerve is the correct answer for transmitting visual information.