Lacrimal duct

The lacrimal canaliculi, (sing. canaliculus), also known as the lacrimal canals or lacrimal ducts, are the small channels in each eyelid that commence at minute orifices, termed puncta lacrimalia, on the summits of the papillae lacrimales, seen on the margins of the lids at the lateral extremity of the lacus lacrimalis. The lacrimal canaliculi, (sing. canaliculus), also known as the lacrimal canals or lacrimal ducts, are the small channels in each eyelid that commence at minute orifices, termed puncta lacrimalia, on the summits of the papillae lacrimales, seen on the margins of the lids at the lateral extremity of the lacus lacrimalis. At the angles they are dilated into ampullæ. Able to be seen under a microscope, they are lined by nonkeratinizing stratified squamous epithelium surrounded by fibrous tissue. Outside the latter is a layer of striped muscle, continuous with the lacrimal part of the orbicularis oculi; at the base of each lacrimal papilla, the muscular fibers are circularly arranged and form a kind of sphincter. Canaliculitis is an inflammation of the canaliculus.Canalicular trauma may require special attention by a specialist trained in the repair of laceration. This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1028 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)