Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Third cranial nerve palsy
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Damage to the oculomotor nerve, termed oculomotor nerve palsy is known by the down n’ out symptoms.
Causes
Causes
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology
The affected eye looks downward, because the superior oblique (innervated by cranial nerve IV), is unantagonized by the paralyzed superior rectus and inferior oblique and looking outwards, because the lateral rectus (innervated by cranial nerve VI) is unantagonized by the paralyzed medial rectus.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Physical Examination
Neurology
- The affected eye looks downward and outward
- Ptosis, or drooping of the eyelid, because the levator palpebrae superioris muscle (eyelid lifting muscle) is innervated by the oculomotor nerve.
- Strabismus
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]