What is unique about the extraocular muscles?

The extraocular muscles (EOMs) have unique functional and structural properties that truly set them apart from the other skeletal muscles in the body. Their most outstanding feature is a distinct behavior in disease.

What is the function of the 6 extrinsic eye muscles?

The extraocular muscles are the six muscles that control movement of the eye (Superior rectus, Inferior rectus, Lateral rectus, Medial rectus, Superior oblique and Inferior oblique) and one muscle that controls eyelid elevation (levator palpebrae).

What are the 6 extraocular muscles?

The Six Muscles of the Eye

• Lateral Rectus. The lateral rectus is a muscle of the eye’s orbit.
• Medial Rectus. The medial rectus is also a muscle of the eye’s orbit.
• Inferior Rectus. The inferior rectus is also a muscle of the orbit.
• Superior Rectus.
• Superior Oblique.
• Inferior Oblique.

What is the function of the intrinsic eye muscles?

The intrinsic muscles of the eye are muscles that control the movements of the lens and pupil and thus participate in the accommodation of vision.

Which is the shortest extraocular muscle?

inferior oblique
The inferior oblique is the shortest of all the eye muscles, measuring approximately 37 mm long. [2] Unlike all other extraocular muscles, the inferior oblique does not originate from the annulus of Zinn or common tendinous ring.

Why do my extraocular muscles hurt?

When your eyes are not properly aligned, you may experience double vision, which the brain rejects. To compensate for the misalignment and keep your eyes moving in sync, the extraocular muscles have to work overtime. Eventually, these tiny muscles become strained and fatigued, leading to a range of painful symptoms.

What controls extrinsic eye muscles?

Most of the muscles of the eye are innervated by the oculomotor nerve (cranial nerve III). The lateral rectus is innervated by the abducens nerve, CN IV, which causes abduction of the eye. The trochlear nerve, CN VI, innervates the superior oblique.

What is Intorsion?

: inward rotation (as of a body part) about an axis or a fixed point especially : rotation of the eye around its anteroposterior axis so that the upper part moves toward the nose — compare extorsion.

What does EOM mean for eyes?

EOM; Extraocular movement; Ocular motility examination. Extraocular muscle function testing examines the function of the eye muscles. A health care provider observes the movement of the eyes in eight specific directions.

Do eyes have muscles?

There are six muscles that attach to the eye to move it. These muscles originate in the eye socket (orbit) and work to move the eye up, down, side to side, and rotate the eye. The superior rectus is an extraocular muscle that attaches to the top of the eye. It moves the eye upward.

What is the main function of the iris?

The iris controls the amount of light that enters the eye by opening and closing the pupil. The iris uses muscles to change the size of the pupil. These muscles can control the amount of light entering the eye by making the pupil larger (dilated) or smaller (constricted).

What are the two intrinsic eye muscles?

The intrinsic muscles, which are involuntary, are situated inside the eyeball and comprise the ciliary muscle (see ciliary body) and the iris.

What are the muscles of the eye and their functions?

There are six muscles responsible for the different movements of both eyes. They are the lateral, medial, inferior, and superior rectus, and the inferior and superior oblique muscles. Each one of these extraocular muscles has specific functions which allow each eye to move in certain directions.

What are the six muscles of the eye?

These muscles arise from the common tendinous ring in the orbit, the eye cavity, and attach to the eyeball. The six muscles are the lateral, medial, inferior and superior rectus muscles, and the inferior and superior oblique muscles.

Which extrinsic eye muscle turns the eye laterally?

The lateral rectus muscle turns the eye laterally. The abducens nerves runs from the pons to the eyes on a long path that leaves the nerve susceptible to damage at several junctions.

What is eye muscle elevates and turns the eye laterally?

Due to its unique path, the superior oblique , when activated, pulls the eye downward and laterally. The last muscle is the inferior oblique, which originates at the lower front of the nasal orbital wall, and passes under the LR to insert on the lateral, posterior part of the globe. Thus, the inferior oblique pulls the eye upward and laterally.