lacrimal reflex

lacrimal reflex

Etymology: L, lacrima, tear, reflectere, to bend back

a release of tears in response to stimulation or irritation of the cornea or conjunctiva.

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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).