| Lateral rectus | |
|---|---|
 Figure showing the mode of innervation of the Recti medialis and lateralis of the eye. | |
 Lateral rectus muscle: is shown in this superior view of the eye. The lateral rectus is on the right side of the image. | |
| Details | |
| Origin | Common tendinous ring at the orbital apex |
| Insertion | 7 mm temporal to the limbus |
| Nerve | Abducens nerve |
| Actions | Abducts the eyeball (makes it move outwards) |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | musculus rectus lateralis bulbi |
| TA98 | A15.2.07.013 |
| TA2 | 2045 |
| FMA | 49038 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
The lateral rectus muscle is a muscle on the lateral side of the eye in the orbit. It is one of six extraocular muscles that control the movements of the eye. The lateral rectus muscle is responsible for lateral movement of the eyeball, specifically abduction. Abduction describes the movement of the eye away from the midline (i.a. nose), allowing the eyeball to move horizontally in the lateral direction, bringing the pupil away from the midline of the body.[1]
- ^ Purves, D.; Augustine, G. J.; Fitzpatrick, D., eds. (2001). "The Actions and Innervation of Extraocular Muscles". Neuroscience (2nd ed.). Sunderland: Sinauer Associates.