THE DIAMETER OF THE NERVE FIBRES TO THE EXTRINSIC EYE MUSCLES OF THE GOAT

Abstract

Fibre analyses have been done on fifteen trochlear nerves, nine oculomotor nerves, five abducens nerves and seven branches of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve, of the goat. In the motor nerves to the extrinsic eye muscles—the oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nerves—a significant group of small fibres has been found, with a range of 3–7 µ. It is suggested that this group of small fibres is identical with the “γ” efferent nerve fibres to the intrafusal muscle fibres of the spindles of the extrinsic eye muscles, as demonstrated electrophysiologically in these animals.