The abducens (CN VI) nucleus is located in the caudal part of the pons. It lies just under the floor of the fourth ventricle, medial to the sulcus limitans.
The nucleus contains two main groups of neurons: motor neurons and interneurons. It contains also a third group, a small number of neurons that send their axons to the flocculus of the cerebellum.
Motor neurons of the abducens nucleus form the ipsilateral abducens nerve (the sixth cranial nerve, CN VI). Abducens nerve is a pure motor nerve and innervates the lateral rectus muscle of the ipsilateral eye. The main function of the muscle is to abduct the eye.