Sense organs (eye and ear)
Lacrimal canaliculus
Canaliculus lacrimalis
- Origin
- Runs medially from the lacrimal punctum in the upper and lower eyelid towards the lacrimal sac
- Insertion
- Opens, usually joined as a common canaliculus, into the lacrimal sac
- Function
- Carries tear fluid from the lacrimal lake to the sac; blinking acts as the pump
- Innervation
- Sensory via the infratrochlear nerve (V1)
- Movement & chain
- The lacrimal part of the orbicularis oculi (Horner muscle) draws tear fluid in with every blink
- Palpation
- Inspect the punctum for malposition; syringing of the lacrimal passages in a watering eye
- Clinical
- Canaliculitis (often Actinomyces), canalicular injury in medial lid lacerations, punctal stenosis
- Segmental innervation
- Sensory V1
- In clinical practice
- A medial eyelid laceration always calls for assessment of the canaliculus before suturing
- Region in the model
- Sense organs (eye and ear)