Which muscle is responsible for adducting the eye?

The medial rectus muscle is the primary muscle responsible for adducting the eye, which means it pulls the eye toward the midline of the body. This muscle is one of the extraocular muscles and specifically works to move the eye in the direction of the nose. Its role is crucial in binocular vision and ensuring that both eyes can focus on a near object together.

In contrast, the lateral rectus muscle abducts the eye, moving it away from the midline. The superior oblique muscle is involved in the depression and intorsion of the eye, while the inferior oblique primarily acts to elevate and extort the eye. Each of these muscles has distinct actions that do not contribute directly to the adduction of the eye. Therefore, the medial rectus stands out as the muscle with the specific function of adduction.