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Oculomotor Nerve

Cranial Nerve III

Simplified side-view illustration of the deep oculomotor nerve pathway highlighted in gold, from the midbrain into the orbit.
A simplified view of CN III in gold: a deep pathway from the midbrain into the orbit, supporting eye movement and upper-eyelid elevation.
What it does

CN III supplies four eye muscles: the superior, medial and inferior rectus, and the inferior oblique. It also lifts the upper eyelid. Its parasympathetic fibers connect through the ciliary ganglion to help narrow the pupil and focus the lens for near vision.

Follow the pathway

Midbrain → deep within the skull → lateral wall of the cavernous sinus → superior orbital fissure → orbit. Within the orbit, superior and inferior divisions reach their muscle targets.

Explore the anatomy

NCBI Bookshelf · Cranial Nerve 3
UTHealth · Oculomotor nerve anatomy

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