trochlear nerve

trochlear

 [trok´le-ar]

1. pertaining to a trochlea.

2. pertaining to the fourth cranial nerve (trochlear nerve).

trochlear nerve the fourth cranial nerve; it supplies muscle sense and the impulse for movement to the superior oblique muscle of the eyeball. See anatomic Table of Nerves in the Appendices.

trochlear nerve

n.

Either of the fourth pair of cranial nerves that originates in the midbrain and innervates a muscle of the eyeball.

trochlear nerve

The 4th of the 12 pairs of cranial nerves. The trochlear nerve supplies one of the muscles that moves the eye-the superior oblique muscle. Contraction of this muscle turns the eye downwards and outwards.

trochlear nerve

the fourth cranial nerve on vertebrates, which innervates the superior oblique muscles of the eye.