From the Research
To look up and to the right, the superior rectus and lateral rectus muscles contract, as supported by the most recent and highest quality study available 1. The superior rectus is primarily responsible for the upward movement (elevation) of the eye, while the lateral rectus handles the outward movement (abduction) toward the right side. These muscles work together in a coordinated fashion to produce the combined upward and rightward gaze. Additionally, the inferior oblique muscle also contributes to the upward movement, particularly when the eye is in an adducted position. This coordinated muscle action is controlled by different cranial nerves:
- the superior rectus and inferior oblique are innervated by the oculomotor nerve (cranial nerve III),
- while the lateral rectus is controlled by the abducens nerve (cranial nerve VI) 1. Some key points to consider when evaluating extraocular muscle function include:
- The actions of the individual extraocular muscles and their relationship to the axes of the globe and the walls of the bony orbit 2
- The unique role of the superior medial rectus compartment in divergence 1
- The potential for anomalous extraocular muscles in certain conditions, such as strabismus 3
- The importance of precise neural control for smooth, coordinated eye movements 1, 4