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Functional morphometry demonstrates extraocular muscle compartmental contraction during vertical gaze changes.

Robert A Clark¹, Joseph L Demer²

¹Stein Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen Medical School, University of California, Los Angeles, California; and.

Journal of Neurophysiology

|November 6, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Human extraocular muscles (EOMs) show differential compartmental contraction during vertical eye movements. This suggests all EOMs may contribute to complex cyclovertical actions, enabling finer control of eye position.

Keywords:

extraocular muscle eye movement magnetic resonance imaging vertical duction

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Area of Science:

Ophthalmology
Neuroscience
Biomechanics

Background:

Anatomical studies suggest selective compartmental innervation of human extraocular muscles (EOMs), implying potential for differential control.
Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies demonstrated differential compartmental contraction in horizontal ductions and vertical vergence.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate differential compartmental EOM contraction during vertical ductions using MRI.
To identify morphometric features correlating with EOM contractility during vertical gaze.

Main Methods:

Surface coil MRI was performed on 25 orbits of 13 normal volunteers during vertical gaze.
Cross-sectional areas and partial volumes of EOMs were analyzed to determine contractility.
EOMs were divided into transverse compartments to assess differential contractile changes.

Main Results:

Percent change in posterior partial volume (PPV) posterior to the globe best correlated with vertical duction.
Differential contractile changes were observed in specific compartments of the inferior rectus, lateral rectus, medial rectus, and superior oblique muscles during infraduction.
No differential contractile changes were found in the superior rectus muscle.

Conclusions:

Differential compartmental EOM activity occurs during normal vertical ductions.
These findings suggest that all EOMs may contribute to cyclovertical actions, allowing for precise eye movement control.