Lacrimal fold
Plica lacrimalis
- Latin eponym: Plica Hasneri
- Eponym: Hasner’s valve
Definition
The lacrimal fold (also called the valve of Hasner or plica lacrimalis) is a mucosal fold located at the inferior opening of the nasolacrimal duct into the inferior meatus of the nasal cavity. It functions as a valvelike structure that helps prevent reflux of air and nasal secretions into the nasolacrimal duct during sneezing or nose blowing.
References
Cochran ML, Aslam S, Czyz CN. Anatomy, Head and Neck: Eye Nasolacrimal. [Updated 2023 Jul 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482213/
Standring, S. (Ed.). (2015). Eye (Chapter 42). In Gray's anatomy: The anatomical basis of clinical practice (41st ed., pp. ). Churchill Livingstone.
Medscape (n.d.) Lacrimal system anatomy. Available at: Medscape (Accessed: 13 May 2026).
