abducent nerve

n (Anatomy) either of the sixth pair of cranial nerves, which supply the lateral rectus muscle of the eye

ab•du′cens nerve`

(æbˈdu sɛnz, -sənz, -ˈdyu-)
n. either one of the sixth pair of cranial nerves, composed of motor fibers that innervate the lateral rectus muscle of the eye. [1900–05]

Thesaurus

Noun

abducens nerve - a small motor nerve supplying the lateral rectus muscle of the eyeabducens, abducent, abducent nerve, nervus abducens, sixth cranial nervecranial nerve - any of the 12 paired nerves that originate in the brain stem

Abducens Nerve

either member of the sixth pair of cranial nerves. The abducens nerve originates in a motor nucleus in the pons on the floor of the rhomboid fossa. The outgrowths of the cells of this nucleus emerge from the brain at a point that lies between the pons and the pyramid of the medulla oblongata. Forming a single nerve trunk, the outgrowths exit from the cranial cavity through the superior orbital fissure and innervate the lateral rectus muscle of the eye, which turns the eyeball outward.

Lesions of the abducens nerve interfere with the mobility of the eyeball and can result in anomalies of the eyeball’s orientation. The latter condition is known as esotropia. Dizziness, double vision, and constrained head movements can also arise as a result of injury to the abducens nerve.

See

abducens nerve

abducens

[ab-du´senz] (L.) abducent.abducens nerve the sixth cranial nerve; it arises from the pons and supplies the lateral rectus muscle of the eyeball, allowing for motion. Paralysis of the nerve causes diplopia (double vision). See anatomic Table of Nerves in the Appendices.

ab·du·cent nerve [CN VI]

[TA] a small motor nerve supplying the lateral rectus muscle of the eye; its origin is in the facial colliculus of the tegmentum of the pons just below the surface of the rhomboid fossa. It emerges from the brain in the fissure between the medulla oblongata and the posterior border of the pons (medullopontine sulcus); it enters the dura of the clivus and passes through the cavernous sinus, entering the orbit through the superior orbital fissure. Synonym(s): nervus abducens [CN VI] [TA], abducens nerve ☆ , abducent (2) , sixth cranial nerve [CN VI]

abducens nerve

the cranial nerve of vertebrates that supplies the external rectus muscle of the eye (see EYE MUSCLE); it is mainly MOTOR in function.

abducens nerve

abducens nerve

abducent nerve

ab•du′cens nerve`

Abducens Nerve

Abducens Nerve

abducens nerve

abducens

ab·du·cent nerve [CN VI]

abducens nerve

abducens nerve

Synonyms for abducens nerve

noun a small motor nerve supplying the lateral rectus muscle of the eye

Synonyms

Related Words