Excretory ducts of lacrimal gland
Ductuli excretorii glandulae lacrimalis
- Related terms: Excretory ducts
Definition
The excretory ducts of lacrimal gland are small ducts that drain the secretions of the orbital and palpebral parts of the lacrimal gland into the conjunctival sac. Approximately 8-12 ducts arise mainly from the orbital part, pass through the palpebral part, and open into the superior conjunctival fornix; in its superolateral part.
Function
Drain the tears from the lacrimal gland to the conjunctival sac.
Tears then spread across the cornea during blinking and drain medially through the nasolacrimal sac and duct.
References
Standring, S. (Ed.). (2015). Eye (Chapter 42). In Gray's anatomy: The anatomical basis of clinical practice (41st ed., pp. ). Churchill Livingstone.
Machiele R, Lopez MJ, Czyz CN. Anatomy, Head and Neck: Eye Lacrimal Gland. [Updated 2023 Jul 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532914/
Patel J, Levin A, Patel BC. Epiphora. [Updated 2023 Aug 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan. [Figure, Lacrimal Gland: Peroperative view of...] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557449/figure/article21249.image.f4/