HOSA Dental Terminology Practice 2026 - Free Dental Terminology Practice Questions and Study Guide

The Abducens nerve is primarily responsible for controlling lateral eye movement. Specifically, it innervates the lateral rectus muscle of the eye, which is crucial for allowing the eye to move outward or laterally. This action is important for various visual tasks, including tracking moving objects and maintaining binocular vision.

Understanding the specific functions of cranial nerves highlights the specialized role of each in the nervous system. Other nerves handle different sensory or motor functions, which is why the Abducens nerve uniquely focuses on this aspect of eye movement.