In testing the oculomotor nerve, which eye movement is NOT typically assessed?

When assessing the oculomotor nerve (Cranial Nerve III), various typical movements are evaluated to gauge its function. Generally, the main functions of the oculomotor nerve include the control of most eye movements, maintaining eyelid elevation, and regulating the pupillary response.

Eye movement to the left is often evaluated by testing the function of the abducens nerve (Cranial Nerve VI), which specifically controls the lateral rectus muscle responsible for abduction of the eye. Conversely, the oculomotor nerve is primarily responsible for movements of adduction, elevation, and depression of the eye. Therefore, movements to the left, which are associated more directly with the lateral muscles, are less characteristic when specifically assessing the oculomotor nerve.

In summary, the assessment of eye movement to the left does not conventionally fall under the evaluation of the oculomotor nerve’s primary functions. Instead, movements such as down and temporal as well as towards the nose are more indicative of oculomotor nerve activity and are commonly tested.