PURPOSE Extraocular muscles express a number of characteristics not normally seen in mature skeletal muscle. The expression of neural cell adhesion molecule, N-CAM, was assessed immunohistochemically in the extraocular muscles of rabbits, monkeys, and humans to examine the hypothesis that there is greater complexity to extraocular muscle fiber types than the traditional description. The presenc...

The potential role of sensory feedback from human extraocular muscles has been subjected to considerable speculation in the ophthalmic literature. Extraocular muscles pull against a fairly even load and do not initiate a stretch reflex, even when the eyes are directed toward the boundaries of their respective field of action. These unique working conditions and physiological properties have led...

Strabismus may result from abnormal innervation, structure, or function of the extraocular muscles. Abnormalities of the orbital bones or masses within the orbit may also cause strabismus due to indirect effects on the extraocular muscles. This paper reviews some disorders of the orbit that are associated with strabismus, including craniofacial malformations, orbital masses, trauma, and anomalo...