Abducens Nerve (CN 6)
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CN 6 nucleus, the abducens nucleus, lies in the posterior, inferior pons. The abducens nerve exits the brainstem at the pontomedullary sulcus, climbs the clivus, and then passes through the cavernous sinus and superior orbital fissure to enter the orbit to innervate the lateral rectus muscle. It passes through Dorello's canal; it is fixed where it pierces the dura and can be stretched when there is downward herniation of the brainstem, thus a CN 6 palsy can be a warning sign of increased intracranial pressure.
CN 6 innervates the lateral rectus which turns the eye outward (abducts it.)