Extraocular Muscles : Function and Innervation

Eye Movement Control Systems

Extraocular Muscles : Function

Superior Oblique muscle : can depress and abduct the eye from the neutral position. From the adducted position, it is the only muscle that can depress the eye

Inferior Oblique muscle : can elevate and abduct the eye from the neutral position.From the adducted position, it is the only muscle that can elevate the eye

Superior rectus muscle : can elevate and adduct the eye from neutral position. it is the only muscle that can elevate the eye from the abducted position

Inferior rectus muscle : can depress and adduct the eye from the neutral position. From the abducted position , it is the only muscle that can depress the eye.

The Lateral rectus muscle can abduct the eye.

Innervation:

Cranial Nerve III :

• Medial rectus : adducts eye
• Superior rectus : elevate, intorts, adducts eye
• Inferior rectus  : depresses, extorts, adducts eye
• Inferior Oblique: elevates, extorts, abducts eye

Cranial Nerve IV : 

• Superior Oblique : depresses, intorts , abducts eye

Cranial Nerve VI : 

• Lateral rectus: Abducts eye.