How does the medial rectus muscle move the eye?

The medial rectus muscle is one of the six extraocular muscles responsible for the precise movements of the eye. When the medial rectus contracts, it pulls the eyeball towards the midline of the body, which results in adduction of the eye. This motion is what allows the eye to move medially, meaning towards the nose. The ocular muscles work in coordination to control the direction of gaze, and the medial rectus is specifically tasked with ensuring that the eye moves inward rather than in any other direction, making the understanding of its function critical in studying eye movements.