Which cranial nerve is responsible for lateral movement of the eyes?

The abducens nerve, which is the sixth cranial nerve, is specifically responsible for innervating the lateral rectus muscle of the eye. This muscle is crucial for the lateral movement of the eyeball, allowing for the outward gaze, or movement away from the midline of the body. When the abducens nerve activates the lateral rectus muscle, it enables the eye to move laterally effectively, facilitating coordination and proper visual tracking.

Other cranial nerves play different roles in eye movement. The oculomotor nerve primarily controls most of the eye's movements, as well as the constriction of the pupil and maintaining an open eyelid. The optic nerve is responsible for vision and not eye movement, while the trochlear nerve primarily innervates the superior oblique muscle, which helps with downward and outward eye movement. Thus, the specific function of the abducens nerve makes it the correct choice for lateral eye movement.