1. The sixth cranial nerve, which controls the lateral rectus muscle of the eye and enables outward eye movement.
Usage: anatomy; also called abducens nerve or sixth cranial nerve

1. Relating to or denoting the abducens nerve or its function in moving the eye outward.
Usage: anatomy; technical

Examples

• The abducens nerve is responsible for abducting the eye, or moving it laterally away from the nose.
• Damage to the abducens can result in the inability to move the eye outward on the affected side.
• The abducens nucleus is located in the brainstem at the level of the pons.
• An abducens palsy causes the eye to turn inward due to unopposed action of the medial rectus muscle.
• The physician tested the patient's abducens function by asking her to look to the side.