Chapter contents Overview Origin & central course Intracranial course Final innervation Coordination of muscles Lower motor neuron lesion Upper motor neuron lesion MLF syndrome

Cranial Nerve VI - Abducens Nerve Page 1 of 8 Overview Has only a somatic motor (general somatic efferent) component. Somatic motor: innervates the lateral rectus muscle of the ipsilateral orbit. The lateral rectus muscle is one of the six extraocular muscles responsible for the precise movement of the eye for visual tracking or fixation on an object. See the CN III section (occulomotor nerve) for a discussion of eye movements and the interaction between the three nuclei and nerves that innervate the extraocular muscles. Figure 6-1a. Abducens nerve and the lateral rectus muscle.

		The abducens nerve innervates the lateral rectus muscle of the ipsilateral orbit. The lateral rectus muscle is responsible for lateral gaze (its contraction causes the eye to be abducted): Figure 6-1b. Actions of the lateral rectus muscle.

Last revised: March 22, 1998