What is the secondary action of the superior oblique?

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

Multiple Choice

What is the secondary action of the superior oblique?

Explanation:
The action of each extraocular muscle changes with where the eye is looking. The superior oblique’s primary action is intorsion (torsional rotation). When the eye is turned inward (adduction), the pull of the superior oblique has a downward component, so its secondary action is depression of the eye in that inward gaze. In other positions, the vertical component isn’t the main effect, and the muscle’s tertiary action is abduction (moving the eye outward). So the secondary action you’re looking for is depression when the eye is adducted.

The action of each extraocular muscle changes with where the eye is looking. The superior oblique’s primary action is intorsion (torsional rotation). When the eye is turned inward (adduction), the pull of the superior oblique has a downward component, so its secondary action is depression of the eye in that inward gaze. In other positions, the vertical component isn’t the main effect, and the muscle’s tertiary action is abduction (moving the eye outward). So the secondary action you’re looking for is depression when the eye is adducted.

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