Contraction of the inferior oblique directs the pupil up and out (Fig. 8.97A).
The inferior branch of the oculomotor nerve innervates the inferior oblique.
To isolate the function of and to test the inferior oblique muscle, a patient is asked to track a physician’s finger medially to bring the axis of the eyeball into alignment with the axis of the muscle and then to look up, which tests the muscle (Fig. 8.97B).