Extrinsic Eye Muscles

Front 1

Superior Rectus

Back 1

Origin: Common tendinous ring (attached to orbit around optic foramen)

Insertion: Superior and central part of the eyeball

Action: Moves eyeball superiorly (elevation) and medially (adduction), and rotates it medially

Front 2

Inferior Rectus

Back 2

Origin: Common tendinous ring (attached to orbit around optic foramen)

Insertion: Inferior and central part of the eyeball

Action: Moves eyeball inferiorly (depression) and medially (adduction), and rotates it medially

Front 3

Lateral Rectus

Back 3

Origin: Common tendinous ring (attached to orbit around optic foramen)

Insertion: Lateral side of eyeball

Action: Moves eyeball laterally (abduction)

Front 4

Medial rectus

Back 4

Origin: Common tendinous ring (attached to orbit around optic foramen)

Insertion: Medial side of eyeball

Action: Moves eyeball medially (adduction)

Front 5

Superior oblique

Back 5

Origin: Sphenoid bone, superior and medial to the tendinous ring in the orbit

Insertion: Eyeball between superior and lateral recti; the muscle inserts into the superior and lateral surfaces of the eyeball via a tendon that passes through the trochlea

Action: Moves eyeball inferiorly (depression) and laterally (abduction), and rotates it medially

Front 6

Inferior oblique

Back 6

Origin: Maxilla in floor of orbit

Insertion: Eyeball between inferior and lateral recti

Action: Moves eyeball superiorly (elevation) and laterally (abduction) and rotates it laterally

Front 7

Extrinsic Eye Muscles

Back 7

Fastest contracting and most precisely controlled skeletal muscles in the body

Front 8

Muscles that control movement of the eyeballs (3 pairs)

Back 8

1. Superior and inferior recti

2. Lateral and Medial recti

3. Superior and inferior obliques