Anatomy, Head and Neck: Eye Medial Rectus Muscles

Extraocular muscles are responsible for controlling eye movements, maintaining proper eye alignment, and moving the upper eyelids. These muscles work in pairs to move the eyes in various directions. The following are the 7 extraocular muscles:

1. Superior rectus muscle

2. Inferior rectus muscle

3. Medial rectus muscle

4. Lateral rectus muscle

5. Superior oblique muscle

6. Inferior oblique muscle

7. Levator palpebrae superioris muscle

Each of these muscles plays a specific role in moving the eye, and their coordinated actions allow for smooth and precise eye movements. Nerve palsies or muscle lesions can impair eye movements and make it difficult for a person to fixate on objects in their field of vision. The medial rectus muscle is primarily responsible for eye adduction, which means it moves the eye medially.

This article discusses the medial rectus.