Eye muscle

Eye Muscle

File:Eye muscles.jpg

The muscles of the human eye.

The eye muscle or extraocular muscle is one of the six muscles that control the movements of the eye. These muscles are responsible for the voluntary and involuntary movements of the eyes, allowing us to look in different directions without moving our heads.

Anatomy

The six extraocular muscles are the superior rectus, inferior rectus, lateral rectus, medial rectus, superior oblique, and inferior oblique. Each muscle has a different role in eye movement:

• The superior rectus moves the eye upward and rotates the top of the eye toward the nose.
• The inferior rectus moves the eye downward and rotates the top of the eye away from the nose.
• The lateral rectus moves the eye outward, away from the nose.
• The medial rectus moves the eye inward, toward the nose.
• The superior oblique moves the eye downward and rotates the top of the eye away from the nose.
• The inferior oblique moves the eye upward and rotates the top of the eye toward the nose.

Function

The extraocular muscles allow the eyes to follow moving objects, maintain clear vision while the head is moving, and shift the gaze from one point to another quickly (saccades). They also enable the eyes to maintain a steady gaze at a single location despite minor head movements (fixation).

Clinical significance

Diseases or conditions that affect the extraocular muscles can lead to strabismus, nystagmus, and diplopia. Treatment may involve medication, surgery, or vision therapy.

See also

• Eye movement
• Oculomotor nerve
• Trochlear nerve
• Abducens nerve