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Medical Definition of Nucleus of oculomotor nerve
1. The composite group of motor neurons innervating all of the external eye muscles except the musculus rectus lateralis and musculus obliquus superior, and including the musculus levator palpebrae superioris; the most rostral component of the nucleus is the Edinger-Westphal nucleus which innervates the musculi sphincter pupillae and ciliaris via the ciliary ganglion. The oculomotor nucleus lies in the rostral half of the midbrain, near the midline in the most ventral part of the central gray substance; fibres of the medial longitudinal fasciculus form its lateral borders. Synonym: nucleus nervi oculomotorii, nucleus of oculomotor nerve. (05 Mar 2000)