The medial rectus muscle is a muscle in the orbit. As with most of the muscles of the orbit, it is innervated by the inferior division of the oculomotor nerve (Cranial Nerve III). This muscle shares an origin with several other extrinsic eye muscles, the anulus tendineus, or common tendon. It is the largest of the extraocular muscles and its only action is adduction of the eyeball. [WP,unvetted]. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medial_rectus_muscle ]
Synonyms: m. rectus medialis musculus rectus medialis medial rectus medial rectus muscle medial rectus extraocular muscle
Term information
- FMA:49037
- ZFA:0000301
- NCIT:C33068
- MA:0001281
- SCTID:181151001
- TAO:0000301
- AAO:0010113
- VHOG:0001127
- Wikipedia:Medial_rectus_muscle
uberon_slim, pheno_slim, vertebrate_core, human_reference_atlas
Taxon notes (from VHOG): "The ability to rotate the eyeball is common to all vertebrates with well-developed eyes, regardless of the habitat in which they live, so these [extrinsic ocular] muscles tend to be conservative. They change little during the course of evolution." Liem KF, Bemis WE, Walker WF, Grande L, Functional Anatomy of the Vertebrates: An Evolutionary Perspective, Third Edition (2001) Orlando Fla.: Harcourt College Publishers, p.331 [VHOG:0001127]