Lacrimal hamulus

The lacrimal hamulus is a small, hook-shaped projection found on the lacrimal bone, located at the front part of the medial walls of the orbits. This projection comes from the section of the lacrimal bone that is positioned behind the posterior lacrimal crest. The lacrimal hamulus is essential in the anatomy of the tear drainage system as it sticks forward, forming a half-circle edge around the opening of the nasolacrimal canal.

The lacrimal hamulus pairs with the frontal process of the maxilla, which forms the front half-circle, to complete the bony border of the opening of the nasolacrimal canal. This structure is crucial for directing tears from the lacrimal sac into the nasolacrimal canal, thus enabling the flow of tears into the nasal cavity.