What happens if the abducens nerve is damaged?
The abducens nerve has the longest intracranial course of any cranial nerve. It is primarily responsible for ipsilateral eye abduction. Abducens nerve palsy results in an inability of the abducens nerve to transmit signals to the lateral rectus, resulting in an inability to abduct the eye and horizontal diplopia.
What causes CN VI palsy?
WHAT CAUSES CRANIAL NERVE VI PALSY? The most common causes of sixth cranial nerve palsy are stroke, trauma, viral illness, brain tumor, inflammation, infection, migraine headache and elevated pressure inside the brain. The condition can be present at birth; however, the most common cause in children is trauma.
What cranial nerve is Abducens?
CN VI
Cranial nerve six (CN VI), also known as the abducens nerve, is one of the nerves responsible for the extraocular motor functions of the eye, along with the oculomotor nerve (CN III) and the trochlear nerve (CN IV).
How is Abducens palsy treated?
General treatment Most patients with a microvascular abducens nerve palsy are simply observed and usually recover within 3-6 months. Treatment for the diplopia associated with abducens nerve palsy can be managed with prisms, occlusion, botulinum toxin, or surgery.
What type of nerve is the abducens?
The abducens nerve or abducent nerve, also known as the sixth cranial nerve, cranial nerve VI, or simply CN VI, is a cranial nerve in humans and various other animals that controls the movement of the lateral rectus muscle, one of the extraocular muscles responsible for outward gaze. It is a somatic efferent nerve.
What cranial nerve is affected by an abducens nerve injury?
Sixth nerve palsy occurs when the sixth cranial nerve is damaged or doesn’t work right. It’s also known as the abducens nerve. This condition causes problems with eye movement. The sixth cranial nerve sends signals to your lateral rectus muscle.
What is abducens function?
Unlike the oculomotor nerve and the trochlear nerve, the abducens nerve is a purely motor nerve, meaning the nerve has no sensory function. Its main function is to carry general somatic efferent nerve axons to innervate the lateral rectus muscle, which then abducts the eye on the ipsilateral side.
Where does the abducens nerve run?
The abducens nerve leaves the brainstem at the junction of the pons and the medulla, superior to the pyramid and medial to the facial nerve. It runs upwards and forwards from this position to reach the eye. The nerve enters the subarachnoid space when it emerges from the brainstem.