Occulomotor nerve

OCCULOMOTOR NERVE (MOTOR)

  • It is the motor nerve to the muscles of the eyeball.
  • It arises from the ventromedial aspect of the cerebral peduncle turns sharply outward and forward, crossing over the posterior primary branch of the emergent artery of the rete mirabile cerebri through the cavernous sinus along with the ophthalmic and the sixth cranial nerves.
  • It leaves the cranium through the foramen orbito rotundum, enters the orbit, pierces the periorbita and divides into dorsal and ventral branches.
  • The dorsal branch supplies medial rectus, ventral rectus and ventral oblique muscles and also conveys parasympathetic efferents to the ciliary ganglion that after relay in the ganglion are distributed to the ciliary muscle and constrictor pupillae of iris.

Last modified: Wednesday, 2 May 2012, 7:01 AM