Bilateral congenital absence of the abducens nerve.
A patient with lifelong, bilateral horizontal gaze palsies is presented. The anatomical findings of bilateral absence of the abducens nerve as it affected the brainstem, the course of the cranial nerves to the extraocular muscles, and muscle innervation are described. The possible relationship of these findings to Duane's syndrome and Möbius syndrome is discussed.
D000010:Abducens Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities*; D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000209:etiology