Nervus abducens is a Latin word that refers to the sixth cranial nerve which is responsible for eye movement. Synonyms for nervus abducens include the abducent nerve, cranial nerve VI, and the sixth nerve. It is a motor nerve that innervates the lateral rectus muscle of the eye, which enables horizontal movement of the eye. The nervus abducens originates from the pons of the brainstem and travels through the cavernous sinus to reach the eye muscle. Damage to the nervus abducens can cause eye movement disorders, such as double vision and difficulty moving the eye laterally. Understanding the synonyms for nervus abducens helps medical professionals communicate clearly about related diagnoses and treatments.