Lateral rectus muscle

Lateral rectus

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

Figure showing the mode of innervation of the Recti medialis and lateralis of the eye.
Latin	musculus rectus lateralis bulbi
Gray's	subject #227 1022
Origin	annulus of Zinn at the orbital apex
Insertion	7 mm temporal to the limbus
Artery
Nerve	abducens nerve
Actions	abducts the eyeball (makes it move outwards)

For the muscle of the neck, see Rectus capitis lateralis muscle

The lateral rectus muscle is a muscle in the orbit. It is one of six extraocular muscles that control the movements of the eye (abduction in this case) and the only muscle innervated by the abducens nerve, cranial nerve VI.

Its function is to bring the pupil away from the midline of the body. It is tested clinically by asking the patient to look laterally.

Additional images

credit: Patrick J. Lynch

fascia: Masseteric fascia · Temporal fascia · Deep portion: cementomaxillary tendon · Superficial portion: cementomandibular tendon

Ear	auricular (anterior, superior, posterior) · temporoparietalis

Scalp/eyelid	occipitofrontalis (occipitalis, frontalis) · orbicularis oculi (depressor supercilii) · corrugator supercilii fascia: Galea aponeurotica

Nose	procerus · nasalis (dilatator naris) · depressor septi nasi · levator labii superioris alaeque nasi

Mouth	levator anguli oris · levator labii superioris · zygomaticus (major, minor) orbicularis oris · risorius · buccinator depressor anguli oris · depressor labii inferioris · mentalis

Palate/fauces (CN IX, X, XI)
(except TVP=V3)

veli palatini (tensor, levator) · musculus uvulae · palatopharyngeus (to pharynx) · palatoglossus (to tongue)

anat (h/n, u, t/d, a/p, l)/phys/devp/hist

noco(m, s, c)/cong(d)/tumr, sysi/epon, injr

proc, drug (M1A/3)