The word "extraocular muscle" is spelled as /ɛkstrəˈɑkjʊlər ˈmʌsəl/. The first syllable "extra" is pronounced as /ɛkstrə/, while "ocular" is pronounced as /ˈɑkjʊlər/. The stress is on the second syllable. The word "muscle" is pronounced as /ˈmʌsəl/. "Extra" means "beyond" or "outside of," while "ocular" refers to the eye. Together, these words describe the muscles that are positioned outside of the eyes. Overall, this word may appear complex, but its spelling and pronunciation can be easily understood using IPA phonetic transcription.
Extraocular muscles are a set of six muscles located around the eye socket, responsible for controlling the movements of the eye. These muscles play a crucial role in enabling the eye to move both horizontally and vertically, allowing it to focus on objects at various distances and maintaining binocular vision.
The extraocular muscles include the four rectus muscles: the superior rectus, inferior rectus, medial rectus, and lateral rectus. The superior rectus muscle elevates the eye, the inferior rectus muscle depresses the eye, the medial rectus muscle adducts or moves the eye inward, and the lateral rectus muscle abducts or moves the eye outward. Additionally, there are two oblique muscles: the superior oblique and inferior oblique. The superior oblique muscle primarily helps to rotate the eye downward and away from the nose, while the inferior oblique muscle assists in rotating the eye upward and away from the nose.
The extraocular muscles are innervated by the cranial nerves: the oculomotor nerve (for the superior rectus, inferior rectus, medial rectus, and inferior oblique muscles), the trochlear nerve (for the superior oblique muscle), and the abducens nerve (for the lateral rectus muscle). The coordinated actions of these muscles allow for precise and synchronized eye movements, contributing to visual perception and the ability to track objects in the environment.
The word "extraocular" is derived from the Latin words "extra" meaning "outside" and "oculus" meaning "eye". Thus, "extraocular" literally means "outside the eye".
The word "muscle" is derived from the Latin word "musculus" meaning "little mouse". This name was given to muscles due to their shape and movement resemblance to a mouse.
Hence, when combined, the term "extraocular muscle" refers to the muscles that are positioned outside the eye and are responsible for its movement.