Final answer:
The ocular rectus muscles attach to the surface of the eyeball and are responsible for eye movements, including saccades. They are aligned in such a way that the lateral rectus muscle may compensate during elevation and depression to maintain alignment with the line of sight.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ocular attachment of the ocular rectus muscles is to the surface of the eyeball. The extraocular muscles, which include the superior rectus, medial rectus, inferior rectus, and lateral rectus, originate from the bones of the orbit and insert into the eyeball. These muscles are responsible for moving the eye in response to various stimuli, such as moving the fovea onto visual targets during rapid movements called saccades.
The superior and inferior rectus muscles, while primarily inducing elevation and depression of the gaze, are not aligned perfectly with the line of sight due to their medial origin relative to their insertion points, necessitating the involvement of the lateral rectus muscle for compensation. These ocular movements are coordinated by the brain stem, with innervation provided by the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens cranial nerves.