LATERAL RECTUS MUSCLE Meaning and
Definition
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The lateral rectus muscle is one of the six extraocular muscles, responsible for the movement of the eyeball. Specifically, it is located on the lateral side (outer side) of the eye and is attached to the outer surface of the eyeball. This muscle receives innervation from the abducens nerve (cranial nerve VI).
Functionally, the primary role of the lateral rectus muscle is to abduct the eye, meaning that it moves the eyeball horizontally away from the midline of the body. This action allows for the eye to move sideways or outward, facilitating the ability to look towards the side of the head. Contraction of the lateral rectus muscle also contributes to the coordination of eye movements in order to achieve binocular vision.
The lateral rectus muscle is essential in maintaining the balance and control of eye movements, ensuring accurate visual tracking of objects in the environment. Dysfunction or weakness of this muscle can lead to a condition known as lateral rectus palsy, which results in an impaired ability to move the eye outward and can cause diplopia (double vision). This muscle is also involved in disorders such as strabismus, where the eyes are misaligned, causing a squint or cross-eye appearance.
Understanding the anatomy and function of the lateral rectus muscle is essential for clinicians, ophthalmologists, and optometrists when assessing and treating patients with eye movement and alignment issues.
Common Misspellings for LATERAL RECTUS MUSCLE
- kateral rectus muscle
- pateral rectus muscle
- oateral rectus muscle
- lzteral rectus muscle
- lsteral rectus muscle
- lwteral rectus muscle
- lqteral rectus muscle
- lareral rectus muscle
- laferal rectus muscle
- lageral rectus muscle
- layeral rectus muscle
- la6eral rectus muscle
- la5eral rectus muscle
- latwral rectus muscle
- latsral rectus muscle
- latdral rectus muscle
- latrral rectus muscle
- lat4ral rectus muscle
- lat3ral rectus muscle
