Yale- Cranial Nerve 4, pg. 5 Page header & navigation buttons.


Chapter contents

Overview

Origin, central course

Intracranial course

Final innervation

Clinical correlation

Unique features
 
Cranial Nerve IV - Trochlear Nerve Page 5 of 7

Intracranial course and final innervation

From the cavernous sinus the trochlear nerve enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure.

CN IV does not pass through the tendinous ring of the extraocular muscles, rather it passes above the ring.

The trochlear nerve then crosses medially along the roof of the orbit above the levator palpebrae and superior rectus muscles to innervate the superior oblique muscle along its proximal one-third:


Figure 4-5. Final innervation of trochlear nerve.

Figure 4-5. Final innervation of trochlear nerve.


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Last revised: March 22, 1998