The term gaze is frequently used in physiology

Physiology

Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...

 to describe coordinated motion of the eyes and neck. The lateral gaze is controlled by the paramedian pontine reticular formation

Paramedian pontine reticular formation

The paramedian pontine reticular formation, or PPRF, is part of the pontine reticular formation, a brain region without clearly defined borders in the center of the pons. It is involved in the coordination of eye movements, particularly horizontal gaze and saccades.- Input, Output, and Function...

 (PPRF). The vertical gaze is controlled by the rostral interstitial nucleus of medial longitudinal fasciculus

Rostral interstitial nucleus of medial longitudinal fasciculus

The rostral interstitial nucleus of medial longitudinal fasciculus is a portion of the medial longitudinal fasciculus which controls vertical gaze.They project to the vestibular nuclei.-External links:...

 and the interstitial nucleus of Cajal.

Conjugate gaze

The conjugate gaze is the motion of both eyes in the same direction at the same time, and conjugate gaze palsy

Conjugate gaze palsy

Conjugate gaze palsy refers to an inability of both eyes to move in the same direction at the same time.It can be associated with a lesion of the paramedian pontine reticular formation.-See also:* Internuclear ophthalmoplegia* One and a half syndrome...

 refers to an impairment of this function. The conjugate gaze is controlled by four different mechanisms:

• the saccadic system that allows for voluntary direction of the gaze
• the pursuit system that allows the subject to follow a moving object
• the optokinetic system that restores gaze despite movements of the outside world
• the vestibulo-ocular reflex system (VOR system) that corrects for the movements of the head to preserve the stable visual image of the world

External links

• http://www.med.yale.edu/caim/cnerves/cn6/cn6_8.html
• http://jnnp.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/67/5/696