The lacrimal system is a set of structures found in the eye orbit and that are responsible for the production and secretion of tears to the ocular surface.
The lacrimal apparatus is one of the eye's protection mechanisms that helps eliminate debris, microorganisms and any foreign body thanks to the antibacterial property of the tear.
Studying how tears are produced, secreted and eliminated through the nostrils is very interesting, which is why in Área Oftalmológica Avanzada We invite you to discover how the lacrimal apparatus works.
What is the tear system?
The lacrimal apparatus is the set of structures that make possible the production, secretion, distribution and elimination of tears.
The tear is an alkaline substance that contains, among other substances, abundant sodium chloride and lysozyme enzymes. The latter provide the tear film its antibacterial property.
Tear production is permanent and, by blinking, it spreads over the cornea and conjunctiva, moistens the entire ocular surface and then drains to make way for another clean tear.
During this process, a part of the tear film evaporates while the rest is conducted, through blinking, to the lacrimal sac and later to the nostrils.
What is the tear apparatus for?
The lacrimal apparatus is responsible for the production, secretion, distribution and elimination of tears through the nostrils.
For the tear to fulfill its full course and function, it is necessary that the three layers that make up the tear film are well constituted since each one of them performs a different task, let's see:
- The lipid surface layer prevents the evaporation of the aqueous part of the tear. This layer also prevents the tear from spilling as a drop during blinking and spreads the entire watery part of the eye. eye structure.
- The intermediate or aqueous layer is the most abundant within the tear and is responsible for nourishing the cornea and providing it with immunity.
- The inner layer or mucin provides a temporary cover for tears so that they can spread more easily through the ocular structure. This layer is also responsible for the stability of the tear film, prevents the cornea from drying out, and removes cells and microorganisms from the eye.
Parts that make it up
The parts of the lacrimal system are structured in two groups. The secretory system, responsible for producing the tear and the extractor, responsible for eliminating the tear.
Let's see each of these groups below:
Secretory system
The secretory system is responsible for producing tears and is made up of basal and reflex lacrimal glands.
The reflexes are divided into main glands and accessory glands.
Excretory system
The excretory system is responsible for eliminating the tear to the nostrils.
This part of the lacrimal apparatus of the eye is composed of:
- The tear points: they are tear collectors that are located in the corner of the upper and lower eyelid.
- Lacrimal canaliculi: They are the ducts that transport tears to the lacrimal sac.
- The tear bags: They are the connection of the lacrimal canaliculus with the nasolacrimal duct. They pump the tear so that it travels towards the nostril.
- The nasolacrimal ducts: they are the ones that carry the tear to the nasal cavity to eliminate it, in some cases through the nose.
- The orbicular muscle: compresses the lacrimal sac to send the tear to the nasolacrimal duct.
Tear apparatus pathologies
The most common diseases of the lacrimal system can affect the tear or some structure of the lacrimal apparatus, let's see:
Diseases that affect the tear
Among the pathologies of the lacrimal system that directly affect the tear, the Dry Eye, an ocular alteration caused by a low tear production or the quality of its composition is deficient.
Diseases of the lacrimal apparatus
- The lacrimal glands can be affected by congenital conditions, dacryoadenitis, tumors or swelling of the gland.
- The lacrimal points can present agenesis, dysgenesis, dacryolite and tumor conditions.
- The nasolacrimal duct can become blocked and affect eye health.
