The abducens nerve (CN VI) is a motor nerve that carries general somatic efferent fibers to exclusively innervate the lateral rectus muscle of the eye.

The abducens nerve arises from neuronal cell bodies originating in the abducens nucleus, which is located in the dorsal pons - in the superior aspect of the rhomboid fossa below the facial colliculus.

The sixth cranial nerve emerges from the ventral aspect of the brainstem at the caudal border of the pons in the pontomedullary junction (between the pons and pyramid of the medulla oblongata), generally above the line with the rootlets of the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII).

The abducens nerve then pierces through the dura mater covering the clivus of the occipital bone, runs upward in the Dorello canal between the dura and the skull, then bends sharply across the upper border of the petrous part of the temporal bone, and enters the cavernous sinus.

The abducens nerve is the only cranial nerve traversing the cavernous sinus.

Within the cavernous sinus, the abducens nerve lies just inferolateral to the internal carotid artery.

After passing through the sinus, the nerve enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure within the common tendinous ring (annulus of Zinn) below the inferior division of the oculomotor nerve (CN III). The abducens nerve then passes forward to innervate one extraocular muscle - the lateral rectus muscle - at the surface of the eye orbit.

Note: Injury to this nerve can lead to convergent strabismus.

Unlock with Premium

Abducens nerve (CN VI)