Muscles of the orbit

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The muscles of the orbit, also referred to as extraocular muscles, or extrinsic muscles of the eyeball, consist of seven skeletal muscles that are located within the orbital cavity, external to the eyeball. Of the seven muscles, the levator palpebrae superioris muscle elevates the upper eyelid. The remaining six are responsible for moving the eyeball in various directions and consist of four recti muscles (superior, inferior, medial and lateral rectus muscles) and two oblique muscles (superior and inferior oblique muscles).

These extraocular muscles originate either from the bony walls of the orbit or the common tendinous ring (annulus of Zinn) and insert at specific areas on the eyeball, producing unique eye movements when put in action. With the exception of the lateral rectus and the superior oblique muscles, which are innervated by the abducens nerve (CN VI) and trochlear nerve (CN IV) respectively, all the remaining extraocular muscles are supplied by the oculomotor nerve (CN III).

Watch this video to learn more about the attachments, innervation, relations and function of the various muscles of the orbit!

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