Abducent nerve

The abducent nerve (VI) is a motor cranial nerve that innervates the lateral rectus and retractor bulbi muscles of the eyeball.

Number : VI

Sensory, motor, or both : motor

Origin : abducent nucleus in the rostral medulla oblongata, at the level of the trapezoid body.

Route / Reports : the fibers pass ventrally through the reticular formation and emerge from the brainstem through the trapezoid body, lateral to the pyramid. The nerve then courses rostrally through the middle cranial fossa beside the hypophysis and dorsal to the cavernous sinus, and leaves the cranial cavity through the orbital fissure.

Distribution : lateral rectus muscle and retractor bulbi muscle of the eyeball.

Description : The abducent nerve originates in the rostral medulla, emerges through the trapezoid body lateral to the pyramid, passes rostrally beside the hypophysis and above the cavernous sinus, and enters the orbit through the orbital fissure. It then supplies the lateral rectus and retractor bulbi muscles.