Lateral rectus muscle

Lateral rectus
Figure showing the mode of innervation of the Recti medialis and lateralis of the eye.
Text indicates Lateral Rectus
Lateral rectus muscle: is shown in this superior view of the eye. The lateral rectus is on the right side of the image.
Details
OriginCommon tendinous ring at the orbital apex
Insertion7 mm temporal to the limbus
NerveAbducens nerve
ActionsAbducts the eyeball (makes it move outwards)
Identifiers
Latinmusculus rectus lateralis bulbi
TA98A15.2.07.013
TA22045
FMA49038
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]

  1. ^ Purves, D.; Augustine, G. J.; Fitzpatrick, D., eds. (2001). "The Actions and Innervation of Extraocular Muscles". Neuroscience (2nd ed.). Sunderland: Sinauer Associates.