Physiology
1. Innervates extraocular muscle: superior oblique muscle
2. Superior oblique muscle passes via pulley (trochlea)
Course
1. Trochlear nucleus at floor of cerebral aqueduct
2. Tracks around superior cerebellar, cerebral peduncles
3. Enters tentorium cerebelli at posterior clinoid process
4. Proceeds through lateral wall of Cavernous Sinus
5. Enters orbit via superior orbital fissure
Exam
1. Normal:
  1. Eye movement inferior laterally
2. Paralysis:
  1. Head Tilt toward the contralateral shoulder
  2. Affected eye slightly elevated in primary position
  3. Can only depress affected eye slightly

Navigation Tree

Please see the Terms and Conditions. Please also see the privacy statement regarding advertising on this page. Although access to this page is not restricted, the information found here is intended for use by medical providers. Patients should address specific medical concerns with their physicians.

This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised before 5/10/08, prior to consistent tracking of revision date. This page was last published on 5/10/2008. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.