Which two extraocular muscles move the eye upward and inward towards the midline?

The correct answer is based on the anatomy and function of the extraocular muscles. The superior rectus and superior oblique muscles are responsible for moving the eye upward (elevation) and inward towards the midline (adduction).

The superior rectus muscle predominantly elevates the eye and also assists with adduction, while the superior oblique muscle, which is innervated by the trochlear nerve (cranial nerve IV), primarily helps in depression and inward rotation but also contributes to adduction when the eye is already elevated. Together, these muscles work synergistically to achieve the desired upward and inward movement of the eye.

The other muscle combinations do not effectively perform both actions of elevation and adduction. For example, the inferior rectus and lateral rectus muscles instead move the eye downward and outward, respectively, while the medial rectus and inferior oblique muscles are involved in adduction and elevation of the eye but not specifically in upward movement as defined in the question. The lateral rectus, on the other hand, is responsible for abduction and does not contribute to inward movement. Thus, the selected combination of superior rectus and superior oblique most accurately describes the movements of interest.