Trochlear Nerve (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, and it has the longest intracranial course.
- Damage to the trochlear nerve can cause weakness or paralysis of the superior oblique muscle, leading to vertical diplopia.
- The trochlear nerve originates from the dorsal aspect of the brainstem, specifically from the trochlear nucleus.
- In some cases, a tumor or aneurysm can compress the trochlear nerve, resulting in isolated fourth nerve palsy.
- The trochlear nerve innervates the superior oblique muscle of the eye, which rotates the eye downward and inward.