Which cranial nerves supply motor fibres to the extraocular muscles?

• A. Trigeminal and Facial
• B. Oculomotor, Trochlear and Abducens
• C. Optic and Vestibulocochlear
• D. Accessory and Hypoglossal

Answer: (B)

The movement of the eyeball in all directions is controlled by three cranial nerves that carry motor fibers to the extraocular muscles. The oculomotor nerve provides motor input to most of these muscles, including the major recti and the inferior oblique, and also controls the eyelid muscle and pupil/ciliary muscles. The trochlear nerve supplies the superior oblique muscle, and the abducens nerve supplies the lateral rectus muscle. The other nerves listed have different roles: trigeminal mainly handles muscles of mastication, facial controls facial expression, optic and vestibulocochlear are sensory, and accessory and hypoglossal supply neck and tongue muscles. Therefore, the nerves that supply motor input to the extraocular muscles are the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens.