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Ch. 11 The Muscular System
Martini - Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology 12th Edition
Martini, Nath, Bartholomew12th EditionFundamentals of Anatomy and PhysiologyISBN: 9780137854011Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksMartini, Nath, Bartholomew 12th EditionCh. 11 The Muscular SystemProblem 8
Chapter 11, Problem 8

The muscle that rotates the eye medially is the
(a) Superior oblique
(b) Inferior rectus
(c) Medial rectus
(d) Lateral rectus

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Step 1: Understand the function of each extraocular muscle listed in the options. The eye muscles control movements such as elevation, depression, abduction, adduction, and rotation.
Step 2: Recall that 'medial rotation' of the eye means turning the eye inward toward the nose, which is also called adduction.
Step 3: Identify the muscle responsible for adduction. The medial rectus muscle pulls the eye medially (toward the midline).
Step 4: Review the other muscles: the superior oblique primarily causes depression and intorsion (inward rotation), the inferior rectus causes depression and extorsion (outward rotation), and the lateral rectus causes abduction (moving the eye laterally).
Step 5: Conclude that the muscle that rotates the eye medially is the medial rectus, corresponding to option (c).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Extraocular Muscles

Extraocular muscles control eye movements and include six muscles: four rectus muscles (superior, inferior, medial, lateral) and two oblique muscles (superior and inferior). Each muscle has a specific role in moving the eye in different directions.
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Introduction to Muscles and Muscle Tissue Example 1

Medial Rotation of the Eye

Medial rotation, or adduction, refers to moving the eye inward toward the nose. The muscle responsible for this movement pulls the eyeball medially, allowing the eyes to focus on objects close to the midline.
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Medial and Lateral

Function of the Medial Rectus Muscle

The medial rectus muscle is primarily responsible for adducting the eye, meaning it rotates the eye medially. It is innervated by the oculomotor nerve and plays a key role in coordinating binocular vision.
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Medial and Lateral
Related Practice
Textbook Question

The more movable end of a muscle is the

(a) Insertion

(b) Belly

(c) Origin

(d) Proximal end

(e) Distal end

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Textbook Question

The muscles of facial expression are innervated by cranial nerve

(a) VII

(b) V

(c) IV

(d) VI

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Textbook Question

The strongest masticatory muscle is the

(a) Pterygoid

(b) Masseter

(c) Temporalis

(d) Mandible

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Textbook Question

The muscles that rotate the radius without producing either flexion or extension of the elbow are the

(a) Brachialis and brachioradialis

(b) Pronator teres and supinator

(c) Biceps brachii and triceps brachii

(d) a, b, and c.

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Textbook Question

The major extensor of the elbow is the

(a) Triceps brachii

(b) Biceps brachii

(c) Deltoid

(d) Subscapularis

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Textbook Question

Important flexors of the vertebral column that act in opposition to the erector spinae are the

(a) Rectus abdominis

(b) Longus capitis

(c) Longus colli

(d) Scalene

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