thumb|right|130px|MRI scan showing lateral and medial rectus muscles.

The '''extraocular muscles''' are the six movements of the eye. The actions of the extraocular muscles depend on the position of the eye at the time of muscle contraction.

==List of muscles==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Muscle
! Innervation
! Origin
! Insertion
! Primary function
! Secondary function
! Tertiary function
|-
| Superior rectus
| Superior branch of oculomotor nerve
| Annulus of Zinn
| eye (anterior, superior surface)
| Elevation
| Intorsion
| Adduction
|-
| Inferior rectus
| Inferior branch of oculomotor nerve
| Annulus of Zinn
| eye (anterior, inferior surface)
| Depression
| Extorsion
| Adduction
|-
| Lateral rectus
| Abducens nerve
| Annulus of Zinn
| eye (anterior, lateral surface)
| Abduction
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
|-
| Medial rectus
| Inferior branch of oculomotor nerve
| Annulus of Zinn
| eye (anterior, medial surface)
| Adduction
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
|-
| Superior oblique
| Trochlear nerve
| Annulus of Zinn
| eye (posterior, superior, lateral surface)
| Intorsion
| Depression
| Abduction
|-
| Inferior oblique
| Inferior branch of oculomotor nerve
| Maxillary bone
| eye (posterior, inferior, lateral surface)
| Extorsion
| Elevation
| Abduction
|}

==Actions==
{| class="wikitable"

Note that intorsion and extorsion are not included in the following table; their actions are accounted for via summation of other actions.

| '''Medial (towards nose)''' || '''Lateral (towards temple)''' 
 |- 
 | ''Elevation, adduction:''<BR>Superior rectus || ''Elevation, abduction:''<BR>inferior oblique 
 |- 
 | ''Adduction:''<BR>Medial rectus || ''Abduction:''<BR>Lateral rectus 
 |- 
 | ''Depression, adduction:''<BR>Inferior rectus || ''Depression, abduction:''<BR>Superior oblique
|}

In an eye examination, the inability of the patient to move the eye in the specified direction can indicate a problem with the associated muscle, and the nerve associated with that muscle. 

==Paths==
[[Image:Eyemuscles.png|thumb|350px|View of right eye from the right:<br>
1 = Annulus tendineus communis<br>
2 = Superior rectus muscle<br>
3 = Inferior rectus muscle<br>
4 = Medial rectus muscle<br>
5 = Lateral rectus muscle<br>
6 = Superior oblique muscle<br>
7 = Trochlea of superior oblique<br>
8 = Inferior oblique muscle<br>
9 = Levator palpebrae superioris muscle<br>
10 = Eyelid<br>
11 = Eyeball<br>
12 = Optic nerve<br>
]]

===Five with paths from annulus of zinn===
Five of the extraocular muscles have their origin in the back of the orbit in a fibrous ring called the annulus of Zinn. 

Four of these then course forward through the orbit and insert onto the globe on its anterior half (i.e., in front of the eye's equator). These muscles are named after their straight paths, and are called the four rectus muscles, or four recti. 

* ''superior rectus'' - inserts on the globe at 2
* ''inferior rectus'' - inserts on the globe at 3
* ''medial rectus'' - inserts on the globe at 4
* ''lateral rectus'' - inserts on the globe at 5

'''外眼筋'''（がいがんきん、extraocular muscles）とは、眼球の向きを変える筋肉の総称である。別名、'''眼球移動筋'''。外眼筋に含まれる6つの筋肉と、それぞれが収縮したときに眼球が動く向きを表に示す。なお解剖学における方向の表現に注意されたい。
<table border>
<caption>外眼筋の作用</caption>
<tr><td></td><td>動作</td></tr>
<tr><td>上直筋</td><td>上内側</td></tr>
<tr><td>下直筋</td><td>下内側</td></tr>
<tr><td>内側直筋</td><td>内側</td></tr>
<tr><td>外側直筋</td><td>外側</td></tr>
<tr><td>上斜筋</td><td>下外側</td></tr>
<tr><td>下斜筋</td><td>上外側</td></tr>
</table>
眼球の向きを変える運動（眼球運動）は、どれか1つの筋肉が単独で収縮するのではなく、ほとんどの場合は6つの協調によってなされる。6つの筋肉はいずれも眼動脈の枝で栄養される。下斜筋以外の5つは、視神経が眼窩先端部（orbital apex）に出るところを取り巻く'''総腱輪'''から起始して、6つとも眼球表面の強膜に停止する。上直筋、下直筋、内側直筋、下斜筋は動眼神経が支配する。上斜筋は滑車神経、外側直筋は外転神経が支配する。動眼神経支配の上眼瞼挙筋を外眼筋に含めることもある。

支配神経のいずれかが頭蓋内圧亢進の症状として現れることが多い。動眼神経麻痺は内頸動脈と前交通動脈が分岐する部分の動脈瘤を強く示唆する。眼球運動障害はいずれも脳の障害、神経変性疾患、重症筋無力症などを示唆するので診断価値が大きい。また外眼筋の麻痺により眼球突出（目が飛び出る）を呈することもあり、これは頭蓋形成の先天異常、バセドウ病のほかでは内頸動脈海綿静脈洞瘻を示唆する。