Intramuscular Nerve Distribution in the Medial Rectus Muscle and Its Clinical Implications

The intramuscular nerve distribution in the extraocular muscles may be crucial for understanding their physiological and pathological responses. This study aimed to determine the oculomotor nerve distribution in the medial rectus muscle (MR) using Sihler's staining.

Thirty-seven MRs from 23 cadavers were investigated. The MR including the oculomotor nerve was finely dissected from its origin to its insertion point into the sclera. The total length of the muscle-belly, tendon length and maximum width of the muscle were measured. We evaluated the pattern of distribution and the length of the intramuscular nerve distribution by gross observation after performing Sihler's staining, which is a method for visualizing the distribution of nerve fibers without alteration of the nerve.

The total length of the muscle-belly, tendon length, and muscle width were 37.6 ± 4.6 mm, 4.4 ± 1.9 mm, and 10 ± 1.8 mm, respectively. The oculomotor nerve enters the MR at a mean of two-fifths along the muscle (24 ± 2.0 mm posterior to the insertion point) and then typically divides into a few branches (mean of 2.1). The intramuscular nerve distribution showed a Y-shaped ramification, forming the terminal nerve plexus, and its course typically finished at around 17 ± 1.5 mm posterior to the muscle insertion point by gross observation. The nerve plexus in the upper part generally coursed more distally than the lower part.

This new information regarding the nerve distribution pattern of MR will be helpful for understanding MR function and the diverse pathophysiology of strabismus.