Foundational Sciences
Ocular Anatomy & Physiology
13 lessons·Beginner
1
Extraocular Muscles
The eye is moved by six extraocular muscles: four rectus muscles and two oblique muscles. The rectus muscles are the medial rectus, lateral rectus, superior rectus, and inferior rectus. The oblique muscles are the superior oblique and inferior oblique. These muscles coordinate eye position for fixation, tracking, and binocular vision.
Key Points
- Six extraocular muscles move each eye
- Four rectus muscles: medial, lateral, superior, inferior
- Two oblique muscles: superior and inferior
- Rectus muscles primarily move the eye horizontally or vertically
- Oblique muscles contribute torsional movements