oc·u·lo·mo·tor nu·cle·us

the composite group of motor neurons innervating all the external eye muscles except the musculus rectus lateralis and musculus obliquus superior, and including the musculus levator palpebrae superioris; the most rostral component of the nucleus is the Edinger-Westphal nucleus, which innervates the musculi sphincter pupillae and ciliaris through the ciliary ganglion. The oculomotor nucleus lies in the rostral half of the midbrain, near the midline in the most ventral part of the central gray substance; fibers of the medial longitudinal fasciculus form its lateral borders.

Synonym(s): nucleus nervi oculomotorii [TA], nucleus of oculomotor nerve [TA]

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

oc·u·lo·mo·tor nu·cle·us

(ok'yū-lō-mō'tŏr nū'klē-ŭs)

The composite group of motor neurons innervating all of the external eye muscles except the musculus rectus lateralis and musculus obliquus superior, and including the musculus levator palpebrae superioris; the most rostral component of the nucleus is the Edinger-Westphal nucleus, which innervates the musculi sphincter pupillae and ciliaris through the ciliary ganglion. The oculomotor nucleus lies in the rostral half of the midbrain, near the midline in the most ventral part of the central gray substance; fibers of the medial longitudinal fasciculus form its lateral borders.

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

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References in periodicals archive

riMLF: rostral interstitial nucleus of medial longitudinal fasciculus, iNC: interstitial nucleus of Cajal, CCN: caudal central subnucleus, MLF: medial longitudinal fasciculus, III N: oculomotor nucleus, VI N: abducens nucleus, IO: intraocular muscles, SR: superior rectus muscle, MR: medial rectus muscle, Lid: Levator palpebrae superioris muscle, IR: inferior rectus muscle, and pupil: sphincter pupillae muscles.

A Case of Progressive Stroke on Posterior Circulation with Transient Bilateral Oculomotor Palsy

Since the oculomotor nucleus is in the midbrain and the abducens nucleus is in the pons the two must be connected, and this connection (pathway) is the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) (Fig 3).

Eye movements: pathophysiology, examination and clinical importance

Its pathway involves the following primary structures: retinal cones, optic nerve, lateral geniculate nucleus, occipital lobe, posterior parietal cortex, frontal eye field (FEF), and the FEF sending projections via the internal capsule to the main oculomotor nucleus, as well as the parasympathetic accessory oculomotor nucleus (i.e., Edinger-Westphal nucleus) [1,7-9].

Effect of oculomotor rehabilitation on accommodative responsivity in mild traumatic brain injury