lacrimal canaliculus

canaliculus /can·a·lic·u·lus/ (kan″ah-lik´u-lus) pl. canali´culi   [L.] an extremely narrow tubular passage or channel.canalic´ular

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apical canaliculus  one of the numerous tubular invaginations arising from the clefts between the microvilli of the proximal convoluted tubule of the kidney and extending downward into the apical cytoplasm.

bone canaliculi  branching tubular passages radiating like wheel spokes from each bone lacuna to connect with the canaliculi of adjacent lacunae, and with the haversian canal.

cochlear canaliculus  a small canal in the petrous part of the temporal bone that interconnects the scala tympani with the subarachnoid space; it houses the perilymphatic duct and a small vein.

dental canaliculi  minute channels in dentin, extending from the pulp cavity to the overlying cement and enamel.

intercellular canaliculus  one located between adjacent cells, such as one of the secretory capillaries, or canaliculi, of the gastric parietal cells.

intracellular canaliculi of parietal cells  a system of canaliculi that seem to be intracellular but are formed by deep invaginations of the surface of the gastric parietal cells rather than extending into the cytoplasm of the cell.

lacrimal canaliculus  the short passage in the eyelid, beginning at the lacrimal point and draining tears from the lacrimal lake to the lacrimal sac.

mastoid canaliculus  a small channel in the temporal bone transmitting the auricular branch of the vagus nerve.

tympanic canaliculus  a small opening on the inferior surface of the petrous portion of the temporal bone, transmitting the tympanic branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve and a small artery.

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lacrimal canaliculus.

See lacrimal duct.

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canaliculus [kan″ah-lik´u-lus] (pl. canali´culi) (L.)

an extremely narrow tubular passage or channel. adj., adj canalic´ular.

bile canaliculi fine tubular channels forming a three-dimensional network within the parenchyma of the liver. They join to form the bile ductules and eventually the hepatic duct.

bone canaliculi branching tubular passages radiating like wheel spokes from each bone lacuna to connect with the canaliculi of adjacent lacunae, and with the haversian canal.

lacrimal canaliculus the short passage in an eyelid, beginning at the lacrimal point and draining tears from the lacrimal lake to the lacrimal sac; called also lacrimal duct. See also lacrimal apparatus.

mastoid canaliculus a small channel in the temporal bone transmitting the auricular branch of the vagus nerve.

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canaliculus

pl. canaliculi [L.] an extremely narrow tubular passage or channel.

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bile canaliculus

fine tubular channels forming a three-dimensional network within the parenchyma of the liver. They join to form the bile ductules and eventually the hepatic duct.

bone canaliculus

branching tubular passages radiating like wheel spokes from each bone lacuna to connect with the canaliculi of adjacent lacunae, and with the haversian canal.

dentinal canaliculus

in the tooth dentine; converge towards the pulp of the tooth.

intracellular canaliculus

intracellular connection between apical plasmalemma and cytoplasm proper of the parietal cells in the gastric mucosa.

lacrimal canaliculus

the short passage in an eyelid, beginning at the lacrimal point and draining tears from the lacrimal lake to the lacrimal sac; called also lacrimal duct. See also lacrimal apparatus.

mastoid canaliculus

a small channel in the temporal bone transmitting the tympanic branch of the vagus nerve.

secretory canaliculus

small canals in serous glandular epithelial cells connecting the cells with the luminal surface.

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lacrimal

pertaining to tears.

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lacrimal apparatus

a group of organs concerned with the production and drainage of tears; it is a nutritive and protective device that helps keep the eye moist and free of dust and other irritating particles. Includes lacrimal gland, accessory lacrimal glands, third eyelid glands and the nasolacrimal duct.

Nasolacrimal apparatus in the dog.By permission from McCurnin D, Poffenbarger EM, Small Animal Physical Diagnosis and Clinical Procedures, Saunders, 1991

lacrimal canaliculus

the lacrimal duct within the eyelid.

lacrimal caruncle

the rounded, often pigmented swelling at the medial canthus of the eye.

lacrimal cyst

congenital displacement of lacrimal tissue results in subconjunctival cysts.

lacrimal drainage system

the structures concerned with tear collection; includes lacrimal lake, puncta, canaliculi, sac and nasolacrimal duct.

lacrimal duct

there are two of these minute ducts draining tears from the conjunctiva, via the lacrimal puncta, into the lacrimal sac. Called also lacrimal canaliculus.

lacrimal duct irrigator

a 20 gauge, blunt-pointed, straight or curved cannula with a needle attachment so that it can be attached directly to a syringe nozzle.

lacrimal fossa

fossa in the medial wall of the orbital rim which houses the lacrimal sac.

lacrimal gland

contained in a pad of fat in the dorsolateral part of the orbital cavity and drains into the conjunctival sac via many excretory ducts. The secretion is largely watery tears, but in the pig is mucus. May develop adenitis.

lacrimal gland anomalies

failure of patency of the duct, supernumerary opening of the duct and ductal ectasia recorded.

lacrimal gland atrophy

part of the syndrome of keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

imperforate lacrimal puncta

see imperforate punctum.

lacrimal lake

the recess between the lids at the nasal commissure of the eye where the tears collect.

lacrimal pump

contraction of the orbiculari oculi muscle creates pressure on the lacrimal sac which causes tears to drain from the lacrimal lake.

lacrimal punctum

there is one on each eyelid close to the medial canthus. Each drains tears from the conjunctival sac into the lacrimal duct in the same eyelid. The tears then pass to the lacrimal sac and into the nasolacrimal duct. See also punctum.

lacrimal reflex

tear production caused by irritation of the cornea and conjunctiva.

lacrimal sac

the distended proximal end of the nasolacrimal duct into which the lacrimal ducts empty.

lacrimal sinus

an excavation of the lacrimal bone which communicates with the maxillary sinus in some species.

lacrimal system

see lacrimal apparatus (above).