Accessory lacrimal glands
Glandulae lacrimales accessoriae
- Eponym: Glands of Kraus; Glands of Wolfring
- Related terms: Accessory lacrimal gland
Definition
The accessory lacrimal glands (Krause's glands) are small, mucous accessory lacrimal glands that are found underneath the eyelid where the upper and lower conjuctivae meet.
Their ducts unite into a rather long sinus which open into the fornix conjunctiva.
There are approximately forty Krause glands in the region of the upper eyelid, and around 6 to 8 in the region of the lower lid. The function of these glands are to produce tears which are secreted onto the surface of the conjuctiva.
References
This definition incorporates text from the wikipedia website - Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. (2004, July 22). FL: Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved August 10, 2004, from http://www.wikipedia.org
