FUNCTIONS: motor to 4 of the 6 extraocular muscles; parasympathetic motor to ciliary muscle and sphincter pupillae.

The oculomotor nerve is the chief motor nerve to the ocular and extraocular muscles. It leaves the cranial cavity and enters the orbit via the SUPERIOR ORBITAL FISSURE. Within this fissure the nerve divides into the superior and inferior divisions. The inferior division also carries presynaptic autonomic fibers to the CILIARY GANGLION (see autonomics of the head for further information).