Which muscle is innervated by the Abducent Nerve (CN VI)?

The muscle innervated by the Abducent Nerve, also known as Cranial Nerve VI, is the lateral rectus muscle. The primary function of the lateral rectus is to allow for abduction of the eye, which means it moves the eye laterally away from the midline. This is critical for coordinated eye movement, especially during activities requiring lateral gaze, such as reading or tracking moving objects.

The abducens nerve specifically innervates this muscle, distinguishing it from other extraocular muscles innervated by different cranial nerves. For instance, the medial rectus muscle, responsible for adduction (moving the eye medially), is innervated by the oculomotor nerve (Cranial Nerve III). The superior rectus muscle, which elevates the eye, and the inferior oblique muscle, which also assists in elevation and external rotation, are likewise both innervated by the oculomotor nerve. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the roles of each cranial nerve in eye movement and function.