Embryologic study of the lacrimal ducts in man. Apropos of 10 cases

: The embryology of the human lacrimal system is not clearly defined in the literature and two hypotheses exist: the first suggests that the origin of the lacrimal system is from an ectodermal fold forming a sulcus of the naso-optic fissure. The second, with few defenders, describes the first rod of cells as meeting a second one which appears to emerge from the primitive nasal cavity. A study of ten human embryos, aged from 14 to 25 weeks and with a length of 12 to 33 cm, examined by histologic sections of 10 microns, revealed no lacrimal origin in the primitive nasal cavity near the inferior meatus. A further interesting point was that in three of the four embryos aged four months the lacrimal point was opened. Most authors, however, found the lacrimal sac and the nasolacrimal duct to be dilated, especially in one case where the inferior part of the nasolacrimal duct at the ostium below the inferior turbinate and meatus was widely dilated. In all the cases, the lower end of the duct was separated from the nasal cavity by a fine membrane in opposition with the nasal mucosa.