Nasolacrimal canal

Nasolacrimal canal is a part of the human anatomy that plays a crucial role in the tear-drainage system. It is a narrow tube-like structure that connects the lacrimal sac to the inferior nasal meatus, allowing the drainage of the tears from the eye to the nasal cavity.

Etymology

The term "nasolacrimal" is derived from two Latin words: "nasus" meaning nose and "lacrima" meaning tear. Thus, the term literally translates to "tear nose", signifying its function as a conduit for tear drainage from the eyes to the nose.

Anatomy

The nasolacrimal canal is approximately 17mm long in adults and is formed by the maxilla, the lacrimal bone, and the inferior nasal concha. It begins at the lacrimal sac, located in the anterior part of the medial wall of the orbit, and ends at the inferior nasal meatus, a part of the nasal cavity.

Function

The primary function of the nasolacrimal canal is to facilitate the drainage of tears from the eye to the nasal cavity. This is why when people cry, they often have a runny nose. The tears, produced by the lacrimal gland, first drain into the lacrimal sac through the lacrimal ducts. From the sac, they are drained into the nasolacrimal canal, and finally into the nasal cavity.

Related Terms

• Lacrimal apparatus: The collective term for the structures involved in the production and drainage of tears.
• Dacryocystitis: An infection of the lacrimal sac, often caused by a blockage in the nasolacrimal canal.
• Epiphora: A condition characterized by an overflow of tears, often due to obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system.

See Also

• Lacrimal bone
• Inferior nasal concha
• Lacrimal gland

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