| Inferior oblique | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Rectus muscles: 2 = superior, 3 = inferior, 4 = medial, 5 = lateral Oblique muscles: 6 = superior, 8 = inferior Other muscle: 9 = levator palpebrae superioris Other structures: 1 = Annulus of Zinn, 7 = Trochlea, 10 = Superior tarsus, 11 = Sclera, 12 = Optic nerve |
||
 |
||
| Sagittal section of right orbital cavity. | ||
| Latin | musculus obliquus inferior bulbi | |
| Gray's | subject #227 1023 | |
| Origin: | orbital surface of the maxilla, lateral to the lacrimal groove | |
| Insertion: | laterally onto the eyeball, deep to the lateral rectus, by a short flat tendon | |
| Artery: | ||
| Nerve: | oculomotor nerve | |
| Action: | extorsion, elevation, abduction | |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | m_22/12549875 | |
The Obliquus oculi inferior (inferior oblique) is a thin, narrow muscle, placed near the anterior margin of the floor of the orbit.
Contents |
Action
Its actions are lateral rotation, elevation and abduction of the eye. Primary action is extorsion; secondary action is elevation; tertiary action is abduction (i.e. it extorts the eye and moves it upward and outward). The field of maximal inferior oblique elevation is in the adducted position. A prevalent error is that the superior oblique adducts as opposed to abducts, found in many clinical texts.[1]
Path
It arises from the orbital surface of the maxilla, lateral to the lacrimal groove. Passing lateralward, backward, and upward, between the inferior rectus and the floor of the orbit, the inferior oblique inserts onto the scleral surface between the inferior rectus and lateral rectus. It is the only muscle of eye movement whose origin is not on the common tendonous ring (annulus of Zinn).
Innervation
The inferior oblique is innervated by the inferior division of the oculomotor nerve (cranial nerve III).
Clinical significance
While commonly affected by palsies of the inferior division of the oculomotor nerve, isolated palsies of the inferior oblique (without affecting other functions of the oculomotor nerve) are quite rare. "Overaction" of the inferior oblique muscle is a commonly observed component of childhood strabismus, particularly infantile esotropia and exotropia. Because true hyperinnervation is not usually present, this phenomenon is better termed "elevation in adduction".[2] Surgical procedures of the inferior oblique include: loosening (recession), myectomy, marginal myotomy, and denervation and extirpation.
Additional images
 Eye movement of lateral rectus muscle, superior view |
 Eye movement of medial rectus muscle, superior view |
 Eye movement of inferior rectus muscle, superior view |
 Eye movement of superior rectus muscle, superior view |
 Eye movement of superior oblique muscle, superior view |
 Eye movement of inferior oblique muscle, superior view |
 Anterior view |
credit: Patrick J. Lynch
 Dissection showing origins of right ocular muscles, and nerves entering by the superior orbital fissure. |
External links
- LUC io
- -133824433 at GPnotebook
- SUNY Figs 29:01-08
- inferior+oblique+muscle at eMedicine Dictionary
- Norman/Georgetown lesson3 (orbit5)
- Image at childrenshospital.org
References
- ^ http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/324/7343/962
- ^ Kushner BJ (2006). "Multiple mechanisms of extraocular muscle 'overaction'". Arch Ophthalmol 124 (5): 680-8. PMID 16682590.
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.
