OCULOMOTOR NERVE

Arista Prima N.
Anatomy
The oculomotor nuclear
complex is in the
midbrain at the level of
the superior colliculus,
ventral to the cerebral
aqueduct
1. abducens nerve
2. abducens nucleus
3. trochlear nerve
4. rochlear nucleus
5. oculomotor nerve
6. visceromotor fiber
7. oculomotor nucleus
8. Edinger – westphal nucleus
Function
• General somatik efferent
Inferior rectus (IR) = depresses eye
superior rectus (SR) = elevetes eye
Medial rectus (MR) = adducts eye
Inferior oblique (IO) = elevates eye when eye
abducted; extorts eye when eye abducted
Levator palpebrae superior = raises eyelid.

• General visceral efferent

Sphincter papillae = constricts pupil
Ciliary muscle = contraction causes lens to bulge
Oculomotor nerve lession
Oculomotor palsies categorize as isolated or complex.
• Isolated CN III palsies  ishemia, mass affect due to aneurism, uncal herniation, and
neoplasm.
• Complex CN III palsies  brain stem lession affecting other tract/nerve or meningeal or
skull base pathologies that affect CNs.

Oculomotor palsies may be complete or incomplete, with the

pupil variably involved or spared.
• Complete CN III palsies  the eye is depressed and abducted (down-and-out) due to
unopposed action of SO and LR muscle.
• Pupillomotor fibers  fixed and dilated, paralysis of lens accomodation.
Case