Nasolacrimal duct

Nasolacrimal duct
The lacrimal apparatus. Right side.
Outline of bones of face, showing position of air sinuses.
Details
Latin	d. nasolacrimalis
Identifiers
MeSH	A09.371.463.640
Dorlands /Elsevier	12314970
TA
TH	{{#property:P1694}}
TE	{{#property:P1693}}
FMA	{{#property:P1402}}
Anatomical terminology [[[d:|edit on Wikidata]]]

The nasolacrimal duct (sometimes called the tear duct) carries tears from the lacrimal sac into the nasal cavity. The opening of the nasolacrimal duct into the inferior nasal meatus is partially covered by a mucosal fold (valve of Hasner or plica lacrimalis). Excess tears flow through nasolacrimal duct which drains into the inferior nasal meatus. This is the reason the nose starts to run when a person is crying or has watery eyes from an allergy, and why one can sometimes taste eye drops.

Like the lacrimal sac, the duct is lined by stratified columnar epithelium containing mucus-secreting goblet cells, and is surrounded by connective tissue.

Clinical significance

Obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct may occur. This leads to the excess overflow of tears called epiphora. A congenital obstruction can cause cystic expansion of the duct and is called a dacrocystocele or Timo cyst. Persons with dry eye conditions can be fitted with punctal plugs that seal the ducts to limit the amount of fluid drainage and retain moisture.

The canal containing the nasolacrimal duct is called the nasolacrimal canal.

In humans, the tear ducts in males tend to be larger than the ones in females.

Additional images

• Gray196.png

  Roof, floor, and lateral wall of left nasal cavity.

See also

• Congenital lacrimal duct obstruction
• Dacrocystocele
• Lacrimal apparatus
• Nasolacrimal duct obstruction

External links

• Anatomy figure: 33:04-09 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• lesson9 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)