A patient with a lesion of the right abducens nerve nucleus in the pons will exhibit which gaze palsy?
- A Inability to abduct the right eye only
- B Vertical gaze palsy
- C Horizontal gaze palsy toward the right side ✓
- D Internuclear ophthalmoplegia on the right
Correct answer: C. Horizontal gaze palsy toward the right side
Explanation
The abducens nucleus contains both the motor neurons for the ipsilateral lateral rectus and the interneurons that project via the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) to the contralateral oculomotor nucleus (for the medial rectus). Destruction of the CN VI nucleus therefore abolishes horizontal conjugate gaze toward the ipsilateral (right) side. A lesion of the CN VI nerve itself only paralyzes ipsilateral abduction.
Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.