Final answer:
The muscles that move the eye in various directions are the six extraocular muscles, which include four rectus muscles and two oblique muscles. These are responsible for smooth and coordinated eye movements, with different cranial nerves providing the necessary innervation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The muscles outside the globe that move the eye in various directions are called extraocular muscles. There are six extraocular muscles that control eye movements: four rectus muscles (superior, inferior, medial, and lateral) and two oblique muscles (superior and inferior). The rectus muscles control movements directly in line with each cardinal point (up, down, left, right), while the oblique muscles control more complex movements due to their angle of insertion onto the eyeball.
The superior and inferior oblique muscles are particularly important for the rotation of the eye. The superior oblique muscle moves the eye downward and outward, while the inferior oblique muscle moves it upward and outward. These muscles help in rotating the eye, which is essential because the eyes are not perfectly aligned in the sagittal plane.
All these muscles, except for the lateral rectus and superior oblique, are innervated by the oculomotor nerve. The lateral rectus is controlled by the abducens nerve, and the superior oblique is innervated by the trochlear nerve. Working together, these muscles allow the eyes to move in a highly coordinated and controlled manner.