Abducent Nerve (Noun)
Meaning
A small motor nerve supplying the lateral rectus muscle of the eye.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The abducent nerve originates in the pons region of the brainstem and runs a long course through the cranium before innervating the lateral rectus muscle of the eye.
- The patient was diagnosed with abducent nerve palsy, resulting in lateral rectus muscle weakness and outward movement limitation of the affected eye.
- A damage to the abducent nerve during an intracranial aneurysm clipping surgery can cause sixth cranial nerve palsy.
- To locate the abducent nerve during microvascular decompression, surgeons rely on a precise mapping of cranial nerve locations in relation to blood vessels and tumors.
- Injuries to the abducent nerve may lead to loss of adduction of the eye, as the resulting absence of lateral rectus function causes impaired ocular rotation.