Extraocular Muscles

There are 4 rectus muscles and 2 oblique muscles around each eye:

  • Medial rectus
    • Moves the eye nasally (adduction)
  • Lateral rectus
    • Moves the eye temporally (abduction)
  • Superior rectus
    • Primary action elevation, in addition secondary actions of adduction and intorsion (nasal rotation)
  • Inferior rectus
    • Primary action depression with secondary adduction and extortion (temporal rotation)

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