Visible Human Transverse Section Through the Head

You selected: lateral rectus

Contraction of the lateral rectus muscle of the eye moves the eye laterally, allowing vision to the side (abduction of the eye).

The abducens nerve (CN VI, or 6th cranial nerve) innervates this muscle. Aside from the superior oblique muscle of the eye (supplied by CN IV, trochlear), all other eye muscles are innervated by the oculomotor nerve (CN III). These muscles include the medial rectus muscles, shown in this section.

Key points in this image
eye | lens | medial rectus | lateral rectus | ethmoid sinus | sphenoid sinus | nasal septum | temporalis muscle | brain |
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Information
Module Name: a_vm1110
Module Title: Visible Human Transverse Section Through the Head
Image Info: Gross specimen, transverse section
Created by: Lynn Bry
Contact Email:bryl@medicine.wustl.edu
Last modified: Feb 4th, 1997
Created with Annotation 1.0