extraocular
|ex-tra-oc-u-lar|
🇺🇸
/ˌɛkstrəˈɑkjəlɚ/
🇬🇧
/ˌekstrəˈɒkjʊlə/
outside the eye
Etymology
'extraocular' originates from Latin: the prefix 'extra-' meaning 'outside' and the adjective 'ocular' derived from Latin 'oculus' meaning 'eye'.
'extraocular' was formed in modern (medical) English by combining the Latin prefix 'extra-' with 'ocular' (from Latin 'oculus' via Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'ocularis'), yielding the compound adjective used in anatomical contexts.
Initially it meant literally 'outside the eye' and it has retained that specific anatomical sense in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
located or occurring outside the eyeball; relating to structures external to the eye (e.g., extraocular muscles).
The extraocular muscles control the movement of the eye.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/31 19:57