Abducens nerve

Abducens Nerve

The Abducens Nerve (pronounced: ab-DOO-senz nurv), also known as Cranial Nerve VI or CN VI, is one of the twelve cranial nerves that are responsible for supplying the muscles of the eye.

Etymology

The term "Abducens" comes from the Latin word "abducere", which means "to lead away". This is in reference to the nerve's primary function, which is to control the movement of the eye away from the midline.

Function

The Abducens Nerve is primarily responsible for controlling the lateral rectus muscle, which is the muscle that moves the eye away from the midline. It is the only cranial nerve that innervates a muscle on the lateral side of the eye.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the Abducens Nerve can result in abducens nerve palsy, a condition characterized by the inability to move the eye away from the midline. This can result in diplopia (double vision) when looking to the side.

Related Terms

• Cranial nerves
• Lateral rectus muscle
• Abducens nerve palsy
• Diplopia

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Abducens nerve
• Wikipedia's article - Abducens nerve

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