Which cranial nerve is responsible for the lateral deviation of the eye?

The abducens nerve, or cranial nerve VI, is specifically responsible for the lateral deviation of the eye. This nerve innervates the lateral rectus muscle, which is one of the extraocular muscles. The primary function of the lateral rectus is to allow the eye to move outward, away from the midline of the body. When this muscle contracts, it pulls the eyeball laterally, enabling the lateral movement crucial for functions such as tracking and binocular vision, which are essential for depth perception.

Other cranial nerves mentioned have different functions. The trigeminal nerve, for instance, primarily manages sensation in the face and motor functions such as chewing. The olfactory nerve is solely responsible for the sense of smell and has no involvement in eye movement. The oculomotor nerve controls most of the eye's movements and also manages pupil constriction and eyelid elevation, but it does not control lateral deviation; that is the specific role of the abducens nerve. Understanding these distinct roles clarifies why the abducens is the correct choice for lateral eye movement.