A patient has an isolated abduction deficit in the right eye; which muscle is most likely restricted?

Prepare for the NBEO Ocular Motility Test. Practice with questions and explanations to enhance your understanding. Get ready for your exam easily!

Multiple Choice

A patient has an isolated abduction deficit in the right eye; which muscle is most likely restricted?

Explanation:
Abduction of the eye is carried out mainly by the lateral rectus of the same eye. If that muscle is restricted, the eye cannot move outward, producing an isolated abduction deficit in that eye. Therefore, the muscle most likely restricted for a right-eye abduction deficit is the right lateral rectus. The other muscles listed do not primarily drive horizontal outward movement—the left medial rectus acts on the left eye to adduct, while the right superior oblique and left inferior oblique are oblique muscles with secondary roles in vertical and torsional movements rather than primary abduction.

Abduction of the eye is carried out mainly by the lateral rectus of the same eye. If that muscle is restricted, the eye cannot move outward, producing an isolated abduction deficit in that eye. Therefore, the muscle most likely restricted for a right-eye abduction deficit is the right lateral rectus. The other muscles listed do not primarily drive horizontal outward movement—the left medial rectus acts on the left eye to adduct, while the right superior oblique and left inferior oblique are oblique muscles with secondary roles in vertical and torsional movements rather than primary abduction.

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