abducens nerve

7.8

A nerve that moves the eye outward so you can look to the side

noun
/æbˈduːsənz nɜrv/

Specialized

: nervio abducens

Damage to the abducens nerve can cause double vision and difficulty moving the eye outward.

Examples

An injury to the abducens nerve may result in an inability to look to the side.
The ophthalmologist tested the function of the abducens nerve during the eye examination.
The abducens nerve controls eye movement.
She has an issue with her abducens nerve.
An injury to the abducens nerve may result in an inability to look to the side.
Damage to the abducens nerve can cause double vision and difficulty moving the eye outward.
The ophthalmologist tested the function of the abducens nerve during the eye examination.

Synonyms

nervus abducens

vsabducens nerve

Specialized

9.9

A small nerve that controls the muscle moving the eye outward

is the common English name rather than the Latin term

abducent nerve

vsabducens nerve

Specialized

7.7

A nerve that controls the muscle that moves the eye outward

is the preferred modern spelling used in many anatomy texts

abducens

vsabducens nerve

Specialized

9.9

A nerve that helps move the eye outward by controlling the muscle on the side of the eye

is the full anatomical name that explicitly includes the word nerve

sixth cranial nerve

vsabducens nerve

Specialized

7.0

A part of the body that controls an eye muscle to move the eye outward

uses the numeric cranial labeling rather than the specific muscle name

abducent

vsabducens nerve

Specialized

9.9

The sixth nerve in the head that makes the eye move outward

is the fuller term that often appears with the word nerve attached

Surface Forms

abducens nerve singular

abducens nerves plural

Morphology

abducens + nerve

The phrase is a straightforward adjectival noun composition: 'abducens' names the specific function/location (a nerve that moves the eye laterally) and 'nerve' identifies the anatomical category. Therefore, if a learner already knows both constituent meanings, the compound meaning is directly derivable following normal medical naming patterns.

Etymology

Abducens nerve The term abducens comes from a Latin word that means 'to lead away'. The nerve was named this because it makes the eye move away from the middle, so the name matches its job of controlling outward eye movement.