Actions of Extraocular Muscles with Strabismus
Ductions
Movement of a single eye in any direction
- adduction- medial/nasal movement
- abduction - lateral/temporal movement
- sursumduction- elevation
- infraduction- depression
- incycloduction- superior limbus moves nasally
- excycloduction- superior limbus moves temporally
Versions
Movement of both eyes in any direction. There are 9 cardinal positions of gaze including primary position.
- Primary gaze- straight ahead
- Right gaze
- Left gaze
- Upgaze
- Downgaze
- Up and Right gaze
- Up and Left gaze
- Down and Right gaze
- Down and Left gaze
Primary Movers for each gaze position
Describes which muscles contract when the eyes are moved from primary position to one of the other 8 gaze positions. These are based on the primary action of each muscle. These are called Yoke muscles.
- Right gaze- Right lateral rectus and Left medial rectus
- Left gaze- Left lateral rectus and Right medial rectus
- Elevation- Both superior rectus and Both inferior oblique
- Depression- Both inferior rectus and Both superior oblique
- Up and Right- Right superior rectus, Left inferior oblique
- Up and Left- Left Superior recuts, Left inferior oblique
- Down and Right- Right inferior rectus, Left superior oblique
- Down and Left- Left inferior rectus, right superior oblique
Hering's Law
The Law of Equal Innervation
When a voluntary eye movement is made, equal and simultaneous neural innervation is sent to the yoke muscles of both eyes.
Sherrington's Law
The Law of Reciprocal Innervation
When a muscle contracts, its antagonist receives simultaneous inhibition, allowing smooth, efficient movement.
Synergist Muscles
| Action | Muscles |
|---|---|
| Elevation | Superior Rectus and Inferior Oblique |
| Depression | Inferior Rectus and Superior Oblique |
| Adduction | Medial Rectus, Superior Rectus, Inferior Rectus |
| Abduction | Lateral Rectus, Superior Oblique, Inferior Oblique |
| Excyclotorsion | Inferior Oblique, Inferior Rectus |
| Incyclotorsion | Superior Oblique, Superior Rectus |
Yoke Muscles
| Gaze (Versions) | Yoke Muscles |
|---|---|
| Right | Right Lateral Rectus, Left Medial Rectus |
| Left | Right Medial Rectus, Left Lateral Rectus |
| Elevation | Both Superior Rectus and both Inferior Obliques |
| Depression | Both Inferior Rectus and both Superior Obliques |
| Up and Right | Right Superior Rectus, Left Inferior Oblique |
| Down and Right | Right Inferior Rectus, Left Superior Oblique |
| Up and Left | Left Superior Rectus, Right Inferior Oblique |
| Down and Left | Left Inferior rRctus, Right Superior Oblique |
Grading of Eye Muscle Action during Versions
- overaction is graded +1 through +4 based on comparison to a standard photograph
- underaction is graded -1 through -4 based on comparison to a standard photograph
- Normal function is “0”





