Sense organs (eye and ear)
Lacrimal gland
Glandula lacrimalis
- Origin
- In the lacrimal fossa of the frontal bone, superolateral in the orbit; divided into an orbital and a palpebral part
- Insertion
- Drains through 6-12 excretory ductules into the superior conjunctival fornix
- Function
- Produces the aqueous layer of the tear film that nourishes, rinses and protects the cornea (lysozyme, lactoferrin)
- Innervation
- Parasympathetic via the facial nerve (VII, greater petrosal nerve, pterygopalatine ganglion, zygomatic nerve to the lacrimal nerve); sensory lacrimal nerve (V1); sympathetic carotid plexus
- Movement & chain
- Tear fluid is spread over the cornea towards the medial canthus with every blink
- Palpation
- Palpation superolateral at the orbital rim; tear production measured with the Schirmer test
- Clinical
- Sicca syndrome in Sjogren disease, dacryoadenitis, lacrimal swelling in sarcoidosis, crocodile tears after facial palsy
- Segmental innervation
- Parasympathetic VII (superior salivatory nucleus, pons)
- In clinical practice
- Artificial tears and eye protection are essential in facial palsy with incomplete lid closure
- Region in the model
- Sense organs (eye and ear)