Final answer:
The extrinsic eye muscle that abducts the eye, moving it laterally, is the lateral rectus, which is innervated by the abducens nerve.
Step-by-step explanation:
Extrinsic Eye Muscles Responsible for Abduction
The extrinsic eye muscles that are responsible for abducting the eye are innervated by three cranial nerves. The muscle specifically responsible for abduction, which is the movement of the eye laterally, is the lateral rectus. This muscle is innervated by the abducens nerve, also known as the sixth cranial nerve. When the lateral rectus muscle contracts, it pulls the eyeball outward, away from the midline of the body, which results in the abduction of the eye.
The medial rectus muscle performs the opposite movement, pulling the eye inward towards the midline, and is controlled by the oculomotor nerve. Movements of the eye, such as tracking an object moving laterally in the visual field, require cooperation between the lateral rectus of one eye and the medial rectus of the other.