| Lacrimal punctum | |
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| The tarsal glands, etc., seen from the inner surface of the eyelids. (Puncta lacrimalia visible at center left.) | |
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| The lacrimal apparatus. Right side. Note outdated terminology: The "Lacrimal ducts" in Gray's are now called "Lacrimal canals". | |
| Gray's | subject #227 1028 |
The lacrimal canaliculi, one in each eyelid, commence at minute orifices, termed puncta lacrimalia (or lacrimal punctum, or lacrimal point), on the summits of the papillae lacrimales, seen on the margins of the lids at the lateral extremity of the lacus lacrimalis. There are two lacrimal puncta in the medial (inside) portion of each eye.
Together, they function to collect tears produced by the lacrimal glands. The fluid is conveyed to the lacrimal sac, and thence via the nasolacrimal duct to the inner nose.
A common colloquial name for this material is simply "sleep," as in, "I woke up with sleep in my eyes."
Additional images
 A close up of a lacrimal punctum. |
See also
External links
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This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.
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