Trochlear (Noun)
Meaning
Either of the two cranial nerves on either side that control the superior oblique muscles of the eyes.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The trochlear nerve is the thinnest and longest of the cranial nerves, with a complex path through the brain.
- Damage to the trochlear nerve can cause weakness or paralysis of the superior oblique muscle, leading to double vision.
- Each trochlear nerve emerges from the brainstem and crosses to the opposite side before innervating the superior oblique muscle.
- The trochlear nerve is the fourth cranial nerve and plays a crucial role in controlling eye movements.
- Injury to the trochlear nerve can result in a condition known as fourth nerve palsy, which affects the superior oblique muscle.