Lacrimal Apparatus

Lacrimal Apparatus

A. Lacrimal gland

• Lies in the upper lateral region of the orbit on the lateral rectus and the levator palpebrae superioris muscles.
• Is drained by 12 lacrimal ducts , which open into the superior conjunctival fornix.

B. Lacrimal canaliculi

• Are two curved canals that begin as a lacrimal punctum (or pore) in the margin of the eyelid and open into the lacrimal sac.

C. Lacrimal sac

• Is the upper dilated end of the nasolacrimal duct , which opens into the inferior meatus of the nasal cavity.

D. Tears

• Are produced by the lacrimal gland.
• Pass through excretory ductules into the superior conjunctival fornix.
• Are spread evenly over the eyeball by blinking movements and accumulate in the area of the lacrimal lake.
• Enter the lacrimal canaliculi through their lacrimal puncta (which is on the summit of the lacrimal papilla) before draining into the lacrimal sac, nasolacrimal duct, and finally the inferior nasal meatus.

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