Diseases

Trochlear Nerve Diseases

Diseases of the fourth cranial (trochlear) nerve or its nucleus in the midbrain. The nerve crosses as it exits the midbrain dorsally and may be injured along its course through the intracranial space, cavernous sinus, superior orbital fissure, or orbit. Clinical manifestations include weakness of the superior oblique muscle which causes vertical DIPLOPIA that is maximal when the affected eye is adducted and directed inferiorly. Head tilt may be seen as a compensatory mechanism for diplopia and rotation of the visual axis. Common etiologies include CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA and INFRATENTORIAL NEOPLASMS.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Diseases of the fourth cranial (trochlear) nerve or its nucleus in the midbrain. The nerve crosses as it exits the midbrain dorsally and may be injured along its course through the intracranial space, cavernous sinus, superior orbital fissure, or orbit. Clinical manifestations include weakness of the superior oblique muscle which causes vertical DIPLOPIA that is maximal when the affected eye is adducted and directed inferiorly. Head tilt may be seen as a compensatory mechanism for diplopia and rotation of the visual axis. Common etiologies include CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA and INFRATENTORIAL NEOPLASMS.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

24 entry terms
  • Cranial Nerve IV Diseases
  • Fourth Cranial Nerve Diseases
  • Trochlear Nerve Disorders
  • Trochlear Neuropathy
  • Neuropathies, Trochlear
  • Neuropathy, Trochlear
  • Trochlear Nerve Disease
  • Trochlear Nerve Disorder
  • Trochlear Neuropathies
  • Fourth Cranial Nerve Palsy
  • Fourth Nerve Palsy
  • Neurogenic Superior Oblique Palsy
  • Superior Oblique Myokymia
  • Superior Oblique Palsy, Neurogenic
  • Trochlear Nerve Palsy
  • Fourth Nerve Palsies
  • Myokymia, Superior Oblique
  • Myokymias, Superior Oblique
  • Palsies, Fourth Nerve
  • Palsies, Trochlear Nerve
  • Palsy, Fourth Nerve
  • Palsy, Trochlear Nerve
  • Superior Oblique Myokymias
  • Trochlear Nerve Palsies

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

35 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

neopl: coord IM with CRANIAL NERVE NEOPLASMS (IM) + histol type of neopl (IM)

MeSH Record

History Note

2000

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Cranial Nerve Diseases (1981-1999)
  • Trochlear Nerve (1965-1999)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. C10w.292w.850

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Trochlear Nerve Diseases. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D020432. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D020432
  2. Trochlear Nerve Diseases. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18554621