title: Pathology of the ocular motor nerves III, IV, and VI.
abstract: The ocular motor nerves supply motor fibers to the extraocular muscles of the globe and levator muscle of the eyelid and parasympathetic pupillomotor fibers to the ciliary ganglion. Lesions are classified according to the anatomic location at which they occur: nuclear, fascicular, cisternal, cavernous, or orbital apex. The course each nerve follows influences the sites at which it is most vulnerable to damage and the pathologies to which it is exposed. Cranial nerve palsies frequently are associated with neurologic deficits that may assist in localizing the lesion anatomically. This article provides an overview of the pathology of the ocular motor nerves.
authors.affiliation: Lysholm Department of Neuroradiology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK. matt@adams888.freeserve.co.uk
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Linn
authors.forename: Indra
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yousry
mesh_terms: D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D015840:Oculomotor Nerve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography