EXTRAOCULAR MUSCLES are the muscles that control eye movement. There are six muscles
attached to the outside of each eyeball, each of which pulls the eye in a particular
direction. There are four RECTUS muscles: superior, inferior, medial and lateral. These
muscles control movement of the eye up, down and to the sides. There are two OBLIQUE
muscles: superior and inferior. They help with up and down movements and also control
rotational movements of the eye.
These muscles are controlled by CRANIAL NERVES which come from the brain. The nerve
impulses from the brain go to both eyes at the same time so that the eyes move in the same
direction, simultaneously.