Inferior oblique muscle

Inferior oblique
abduction
Identifiers
Latin	musculus obliquus inferior bulbi
TA98	A15.2.07.019
TA2	2051
FMA	49040
Anatomical terms of muscle [edit on Wikidata ]

The inferior oblique muscle or obliquus oculi inferior is a thin, narrow muscle placed near the anterior margin of the floor of the

.

Structure

The inferior oblique arises from the orbital surface of the

).

Passing lateralward, backward, and upward, between the

.

In humans, the muscle is about 35 mm long.^[1]

Innervation

The inferior oblique is innervated by the inferior division of the oculomotor nerve (cranial nerve III).

Function

Its

are extorsion, elevation and abduction of the eye.

Primary action is

(i.e. it extorts the eye and moves it upward and outwards). The field of maximal inferior oblique elevation is in the adducted position.

The inferior oblique muscle is the only muscle that is capable of elevating the eye when it is in a fully adducted position.^[2]

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".^[3]

Surgical procedures of the inferior oblique include: loosening (also known as recession see Strabismus surgery), myectomy, marginal myotomy, and denervation and extirpation. It is also encountered and identified in lower lid blepharoplasty surgeries.

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

• 
  Dissection showing origins of right ocular muscles, and nerves entering by the superior orbital fissure.
• 
  Inferior oblique muscle
• 
  Extrinsic eye muscle. Nerves of orbita. Deep dissection.
• 
  Extrinsic eye muscle. Nerves of orbita. Deep dissection.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1023 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

• Anatomy figure: 29:01-08 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• lesson3 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (orbit5)
• Image at childrenshospital.org