EXTRAOCULAR MUSCLES
Anteroposterior stability of eyeball is provided by all except:
| A |
Suspensory ligament of the eye ball |
|
| B |
Superior oblique |
|
| C |
Superior rectus |
|
| D |
Orbital fat |
Anteroposterior stability of eyeball is provided by all except:
| A |
Suspensory ligament of the eye ball |
|
| B |
Superior oblique |
|
| C |
Superior rectus |
|
| D |
Orbital fat |
Suspensory ligament of the eye ball [Ref. Gray’s Anatomy 40/e p658; Last’s anatomy: regional and applied By Chummy S. Sinnatamby, Raymond Jack Last 11/e p417; Clinical anatomy of the eye By Richard S. Snell, Michael A. Lemp p133]
- The suspensory ligament (of Lockwood) is a part of fascial sheath encasing the eye ball. It forms a hammock stretching below the eyeball between the medial and lateral check ligaments and enclosing the inferior rectus and inferior oblique muscles of the eye.
- The ligament supports the eye, and prevents downward displacement of it.
- Gray’s 40/e p658 writes- “A continuous fascial band, the suspensory ligament of the eye, is slung like a hammock below the eye, providing sufficient support such that, even when the maxilla (forming the floor of the orbit) is removed, the eye will retain its position.”
Which of the following eye muscles rotates the eye downward and away from midline?
| A | Inferior oblique | |
| B |
Superior oblique |
|
| C |
Inferior rectus |
|
| D |
Superior rectus |
Superior oblique
| A | Superior rectus | |
| B | Superior oblique | |
| C | Inferior rectus | |
| D | Inferior oblique |
Ref: Parsons’ 21st / Pg. 393.
| A | Medial rectus | |
| B | Lateral rectus | |
| C | Superior oblique | |
| D | Inferior oblique |
Superior oblique is innervated by trochlear nerve. Inferior oblique, medial rectus, superior rectus, inferior rectus are innervated by occulomotor nerve. Lateral rectus is innervated by abducens nerve.
Ref: Riordan-Eva P. (2011). Chapter 1. Anatomy & Embryology of the Eye. In P. Riordan-Eva, E.T. Cunningham, Jr. (Eds), Vaughan & Asbury’s General Ophthalmology, 18e.
Which of the following extraocular muscle of the eye is involved in intorsion, depression and abduction of the eyeball?
| A |
Inferior rectus |
|
| B |
Superior rectus |
|
| C |
Inferior oblique |
|
| D |
Superior oblique |
|
Muscle |
Primary action |
Secondary action |
Tertiary action |
|
Medial rectus |
Adduction |
||
|
Lateral rectus |
Abduction |
||
|
Superior rectus |
Elevation |
Intorsion |
Adduction |
|
Inferior rectus |
Depression |
Extortion |
Adduction |
|
Superior oblique |
Intorsion |
Depression |
Abduction |
|
Inferior oblique |
Extortion |
Elevation |
Abduction |
Ref: Textbook of Ophthalmology edited by Sunita Agarwal, page 404.
| A |
Superior division of 3rd nerve |
|
| B |
Inferior div. or 3rd nerve |
|
| C |
Abducent nerve |
|
| D |
Trochlear nerve |
A. i.e. Superior division of 3rd nerve
Superior rectus & LPS are supplied by superior division of occulomotor nerveQ.
| A |
Insertion- 6.5 cm behind limbus |
|
| B |
Lies inferior to inferior oblique muscle |
|
| C |
Main depressor when adducted |
|
| D |
All |
– All extraocular muscles (all recti, superior oblique & levator palpebrae superioris) except inferior oblique arise from apex of orbit.
The inferior rectus muscle originates from the inferior edge of the common tendinous ring (annulus of Zinn).
It courses anteriorly, laterally and downwards along the orbital floor to insert on sclera anteriorly about 6.5 cm behind the limbus. Inferior rectus muscle courses between the eyeball and inferior oblique muscle (which passes beneath i. e. inferior to inferior rectus) before its insertion.
Failure to dissect fascial attachments b/w inferior rectus, the inferior oblique, and lower lid retractors during IR recession or resection may cause eyelid fissure widening or narrowing, respectively.
The actions of superior oblique muscle is A/E:
| A |
Abduction |
|
| B |
Intorsion |
|
| C |
Extorsion |
|
| D |
Depression |
C i.e., Extorsion
The antagonistic muscle to superior rectus is :
| A |
A.Inferior oblique |
|
| B |
Inferior rectus |
|
| C |
Superior oblique |
|
| D |
Lateral rectus |
B i.e., Inferior rectus
Inferior oblique is supplied by the ….. carnial nerve :
| A |
3rd |
|
| B |
4th |
|
| C |
5th |
|
| D |
6th |
A i.e., 3rd
The occulomotor nerve supplies the muscle of the eye except :
| A |
Lateral rectus |
|
| B |
Superior oblique |
|
| C |
Superior rectus |
|
| D |
a & b |
A i.e., Lateral rectus B i.e., Superior oblique
Downward and lateral gaze is action of
| A |
Inferior oblique |
|
| B |
Medial rectus |
|
| C |
Superior oblique |
|
| D |
Lateral rectus |
C i.e. Superior oblique
Function of superior oblique muscle is :
| A |
Elevation with eye rotated outwards |
|
| B |
Elevation with eye rotated downwards |
|
| C |
Depression with inward rotation |
|
| D |
Depression with outward rotation |
C i.e. Depression with internal rotation
Superior oblique muscle performs action of:
| A |
Intortion |
|
| B |
Extortion |
|
| C |
Elevation |
|
| D |
Medial rotation |
A i.e. Intortion
Action of superior oblique is following except:
| A |
Extortion |
|
| B |
Depression |
|
| C |
Abduction |
|
| D |
Intortion |
A i.e. Extortion
Superior oblique – intort, depress & abduct Q the eye in primary position; whereas inferior oblique-extort, elevate & abduct Q the eye in primary position.
|
Muscle |
Action |
|
Superior oblique & Superior rectus |
IntortorsQ |
|
Inferior oblique & Inferior rectus |
ExtortorsQ |
|
Mnemonic – ‘!Superiors = Intortors & Inferiors= Extortors” |
|
|
Medial rectus + Superior & Inferior rectus |
AdductorsQ; |
|
Lateral rectus + Superior & |
AbductorsQ |
|
Inferior oblique |
|
|
Mnemonic – “BOLR” i.e. aBductor = Oblique (sup. & |
|
|
inf.), + Lateral Rectus |
|
|
Mnemonic – “MIS RED” i.e. Medial/Inferior/ Superior |
|
|
REctus are aDDuctors |
|
|
Superior rectus & Inferior oblique |
Elevators |
|
Inferior rectus & Superior oblique |
Depressor |
|
In aBducted eye ObliquesQ are chief tortors |
|
|
|
Mnemonic= “BORD” |
||
|
In aDDucted eye RectiQ are chief tortors |
||
|
|
|
Action of individual muscles |
|||
|
Muscle |
In primary |
Abducted |
Adducted |
|
|
position |
eye |
eye |
|
1. Superior |
DepressionQ |
Only |
Only |
|
oblique |
A bductionQ |
intortion |
depression |
|
|
IntortionQ |
|
|
|
2. Inferior |
Elevation |
Only |
Only |
|
oblique |
Abduction |
extortion |
elevation |
|
|
Extortion |
|
|
|
3. Inferior |
Depression |
Only |
Only |
|
rectus |
Adduction |
depression |
extortion |
|
|
Extortion |
|
|
|
4. Superior |
Elevation |
Only |
Only |
|
rectus |
Adduction |
elevation |
intortion |
|
|
Intortion |
|
|
|
5. Medial rectus |
Only adduction |
|
‑ |
|
6. Lateral rectus |
Only abduction |
– |
‑ |
Mn =”SO BID BEXT IFO=So BID BEST IPO” = Superior Oblique = aBduction, Intorsion, Depression; Inferior Oblique = aBduction, Elevation, Extorsion
Weakness of extraocular muscle may be seen in all of the following conditions except :
| A | Polymyositis | |
| B |
Myasthenia-gravis |
|
| C |
Eaten-lambert-myasthenic syndrome |
|
| D |
Thyrotoxicosis |
A i.e. Polymyositis
Ocular muscles are spared even in advanced, untreated cases of inflammatory myopathies (polymyositis, dermatomyositis & inclusion body myositis) Q. If these muscles are affected, the diagnosis of inflammatory myopathy should be questioned. (H-2540)
Inflammatory Myopathies
|
Characteristic |
Dermatomyositis |
Polymyositis |
Inclusion body myositis |
|
Age |
Adulthood and childhood |
> 18 years |
> 50 years Male: Female = 3:1 |
|
Sex |
Female > Male |
|
|
|
Familial association |
Absent |
Absent |
Present in some cases |
Associated conditions
|
Drugs |
– D-penicillamine |
– D-penicillamine |
Absent |
|
|
– Contaminated tryptophan |
– Zidovudine |
|
|
Connective tissue disease |
Present e.g. scleroderma & mixed connective tissue disease (overlap |
Present e.g. SLE, RA, sjogren, systemic sclerosis & mixed |
Present e.g. SLE, RA, sjogren, systemic sclerosis |
|
|
syndrome) |
connective tissue disease |
& mixed connective tissue disease |
|
Systemic autoimmune disease |
Infrequent |
Frequent e.g. chron’s ds, vasculitis, sarcoidosis, 10 biliary cirrhosis etc. |
Infrequent |
|
Malignancy |
Present, in upto 15% cases |
Absent |
Absent |
|
Viruses |
Unproven |
Present e.g. HIV & HTLV-1 |
Present e.g.HIV & HTLV-1 |
|
Parasites & bacteria |
Absent |
Present |
Absent |
|
Clinical features |
• Rash – Accompany or more often precede muscle weaknessQ – Consists of a blue purple discolouration on the upper eyelids with edema (heliotrope rash) Q, a flat red rash on the face & upper trunk, & erythema of knuckles with raised violaceous scaly eruption (Gottron rashQ). The erythematous rash on neck & anterior chest (V sign) or back & shoulder (Shawl sign) can also occur. |
• It is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is subacute myopathy affecting adults & rarely children who do not have – rash Q, involvement of extraocular & facial muscles Q, family h/o neuromuscular disease, h/o exposure to myotoxic drugs or toxins, endocrinopathy, neurogenic disease, muscular dystrophy, biochemical muscle disorder (deficiency of enzyme) or IBM as excluded by muscle biopsy analysis. |
|
|
|
– May worsen after sun exposure |
|
|
|
|
& may be pruritic |
|
|
|
|
• The cuticles may be irregular thickened & distorted and the fingers (lateral & palmar areas) may become rough & cracked with irregular dirty horizontal lines, resembling mechanic’s hands. |
|
|
|
Muscle weakness |
– Progressive & often |
– Progressive & often |
– Progress very slowly over |
|
|
symmetrical muscle weakness, which progress subacutely, over a period of weeks or month |
symmetrical muscle weakness, which progress sub acutely, over a period of weeks or |
years simulating a late life muscular dystrophy or |
|
|
– Increasing difficulty with |
month |
slowly progressive motor |
|
|
everyday tasks requiring the |
– Increasing difficulty with |
neuron disease |
|
|
use of proximal muscles Q such |
everyday tasks requiring the |
– Fine motor movements |
|
|
as getting up from a chair, climbing steps or combing hair etc. |
use of proximal muscles Q such as getting up from a chair, climbing steps or combing hair |
(distal muscles) are involved early _ Mild fascial weakness is |
|
|
– Fine motor movements that depend on the strength of distal |
etc. – Fine motor movements that |
common |
|
|
muscles, such as buttoning a |
depend on the strength of |
– Falling is common |
|
|
shirt, sewing, knitting or |
distal muscles, such as |
because of early |
|
|
writing are affected only late in course |
buttoning a shirt, sewing, knitting or writing are affected |
involvement of quadriceps muscle with buckling of |
|
|
– Fascial muscle are unaffected |
only late in course |
knees. |
|
|
– Myalagia & muscle tenderness may occur in some patients of |
– Fascial muscle are unaffected |
|
|
|
DM with connective tissue disease |
|
|
| A | Superior oblique | |
| B |
Inferior oblique |
|
| C |
Superior rectus |
|
| D |
Inferior rectus |
Ans. Superior oblique
The shortest extraocular muscle is:
| A |
Superior oblique |
|
| B |
Inferior oblique |
|
| C |
Superior rectus |
|
| D |
Inferior rectus |
Ans. Inferior oblique
The posterior end of which muscle insertion lies near the macula ?
| A |
Inferior oblique |
|
| B |
Superior oblique |
|
| C |
Superior rectus |
|
| D |
Inferior rectus |
Ans. Inferior oblique
Yoke muscle for right superior rectus is:
| A |
Left superior rectus |
|
| B |
Left inferior oblique |
|
| C |
Left inferior rectus |
|
| D |
Left superior oblique |
Ans. Left inferior oblique
Which of the following extraocular muscle has sympathetic innervation:
| A |
Levator palpebrae superioris |
|
| B |
Muller’s muscle |
|
| C |
Superior rectus |
|
| D |
Inferior rectus |
Ans. Muller’s muscle
The muscle which makes an angle of about 51° with the optical axis is:
| A |
Superior rectus |
|
| B |
Superior oblique |
|
| C |
Inferior rectus |
|
| D |
Lateral rectus |
Ans. Superior oblique
The muscle which makes an angle of about 23° with the optical axis is:
| A |
Superior oblique |
|
| B |
Superior rectus |
|
| C |
Inferior oblique |
|
| D |
Medial rectus |
Ans. Superior rectus
Action of right superior oblique muscle is:
| A |
Dextrodepression |
|
| B |
Dextroelevation |
|
| C |
Laevoelevation |
|
| D |
Laevodepression |
Ans. Dextrodepression
Downward and lateral gaze is action of:
| A |
Inferior oblique |
|
| B |
Medial rectus |
|
| C |
Superior oblique |
|
| D |
Lateral rectus |
Ans. Superior oblique
Action of superior rectus:
| A |
Abduction and intorsion |
|
| B |
Adduction and extorsion |
|
| C |
Adduction and intorsion |
|
| D |
Abduction and extorsion |
Superior rectus muscle
It is innervated by the superior division of the oculomotor nerve (Cranial Nerve III).
In the primary position (looking straight ahead), the superior rectus muscle’s primary function is elevation, although it also contributes to intorsion and adduction.
Lateral rectus is supplied by:
| A |
III cranial nerve |
|
| B |
IV cranial nerve |
|
| C |
V cranial nerve |
|
| D |
VI cranial nerve |
Lateral rectus
It control abduction
It is the only muscle innervated by the abducens nerve i.e., cranial nerve VI.
Superior oblique muscle is supplied by the Trochlear nerve and the rest of the extraocular muscles are supplied by the oculomotor nerve.
Which of the following extraocular muscles does not arise from annulus:
| A |
Inferior rectus |
|
| B |
Medial rectus |
|
| C |
Lateral rectus |
|
| D |
Superior oblique |
Superior oblique
The annulus of Zinn, also known as the annular tendon or common tendinous ring, is a ring of fibrous tissue surrounding the optic nerve at its entrance at the apex of the orbit.
It can be used to divide the regions of the superior orbital fissure.
The arteries surrounding the optic nerve are sometimes called the “circle of Zinn-Haller” (CZH).
Some sources distinguish between these terms more precisely, with the anulus tendineus communis being the parent structure, divided into two parts:
- A lower, the ligament or tendon of Zinn, which gives origin to the Rectus inferior, part of the Rectus internus, and the lower head of origin of the Rectus lateralis.
- An upper, which gives origin to the Rectus superior, the rest of the Rectus medialis, and the upper head of the Rectus lateralis. This upper band is sometimes termed the superior tendon of Lockwood.
The site of origin of the superior oblique muscle is from the lesser wing of the sphenoid above the optic canal.
| A | Superior oblique | |
| B |
Superior rectus |
|
| C |
Both of the above |
|
| D |
None of the above |
Single/pure movements-produced as a result of combined actions of muscles.
- Upward rotation/elevation-superior rectus and inferior oblique
- Downward rotation/depression-inferior rectus and superior oblique
- Medial rotation/adduction-superior rectus, medial rectus and inferior rectus
- Lateral rotation/abduction-superior rectus, lateral rectus and inferior rectus
- Intortion-superior oblique and superior rectus
- Extortion-inferior oblique and inferior rectus
| A |
Intorsion, adduction and depression |
|
| B |
Intorsion, abduction and elevation |
|
| C |
Intorsion, abduction and depression |
|
| D |
Extorsion, abduction and depression |
The primary action of the superior oblique muscle is intorsion (internal rotation), the secondary action is depression (primarily in the adducted position) and the tertiary action is abduction.
Oculomotor nerve supplies all muscles of the eye except
| A |
Inferior oblique |
|
| B |
Superior oblique |
|
| C |
Superior rectus |
|
| D |
Inferior rectus |
Trochlear nerve ends by supplying the superior oblique muscle on its orbital surface Remember
- SO-4, LR-6, Rest by 3
- Superior oblique by 4th cranial nerve
- Lateral rectus by 6th cranial nerve
- Rest of the muscles by 3rd cranial nerve
March 2005
| A |
Third cranial nerve |
|
| B |
Fourth cranial nerve |
|
| C |
Fifth cranial nerve |
|
| D |
Sixth cranial nerve |
Ans. B: Fourth cranial nerve
Each extraocular muscle is innervated by a specific cranial nerve:
- Medial rectus (MR) — cranial nerve III (Oculomotor)
- Lateral rectus (LR) — cranial nerve VI (Abducens)
- Superior rectus (SR) — cranial nerve III (Oculomotor)
- Inferior rectus (IR) — cranial nerve III (Oculomotor)
- Superior oblique (SO)—cranial nerve IV (Trochlear)
- Inferior oblique (I0) —cranial nerve III (Oculomotor)
The following can be used to remember the cranial nerve innervations of the six extraocular muscles:
LR6 (SO4)3.
That is, the lateral rectus (LR) is innervated by C.N. 6, the superior oblique (SO) is innervated by C.N. 4, and the four remaining muscles (MR, SR, IR, and RD) are innervated by C.N. 3.
| A | Abduction | |
| B |
Adduction |
|
| C |
Extorsion |
|
| D |
Elevation |
Ans. is ‘c’ i.e., Extorsion
Superior oblique causes all except ‑
| A |
Intorsion |
|
| B |
Elevation |
|
| C |
Depression |
|
| D |
Abduction |
Ans. is ‘b’ i.e., Elevation
Occulomotor nerve supplies all extraocular muscles except ‑
| A |
Superior rectus |
|
| B |
Inferior rectus |
|
| C |
Lateral rectus |
|
| D |
Medial rectus |
Ans. is ‘c’ i.e., Lateral rectus
Lateral rectus is supplied of by sixth nerve (abducent) nerve and superior oblique is supplied by fourth (trochlear) nerve. All other extraocular muscles are supplied by occulmotor nerve.
Synergistic muscle for right medial rectus is ‑
| A |
Right lateral rectus |
|
| B |
Left lateral rectus |
|
| C |
Right superior rectus |
|
| D |
Right superior oblique |
Ans. is ‘c’ i.e., Right superior rectus
To know this question one should know the difference between synergistic muscles and yoke muscles.
Synergists. It refers to the muscles having the same primary action in the same eye e.g.,superior rectus and inferior oblique of the same eye act as synergistic elevators.
| A |
Right lateral rectus and left medial rectus |
|
| B |
Right superior rectus and left inferior oblique |
|
| C |
Right inferior rectus and left superior oblique |
|
| D |
Bilateral superior recti and inferior obliques |
Ans. is ‘b’ i.e., Right superior rectus and left inferior oblique
(Dextroelevation)
Right superior rectus
Left inferior oblique
Occulomotor nerve supplies all extraocular muscles except ‑
| A |
Superior rectus |
|
| B |
Inferior rectus |
|
| C |
Lateral rectus |
|
| D |
Medial rectus |
Ans. is ‘c’ i.e., Lateral rectus

