Tear Film & Lacrimation Flashcards
What type of gland is the lacrimal gland?
A compound tubuloacinar gland it is made up of many lobules separated by connective tissue, each lobule contains many acini
What are Acini?
The lacrimal gland is composed of numerous acini that are primary secretory units responsible for tear production
What make up Acini?
Lacrimal acinar cells
What are Acinar cells?
Specialised epithelial cells that contain abundant secretory granules that store proteins, electrolytes and other substances that contribute to tear composition
What do Acini play a crucial role in?
Production & secretion of tears
What do acinus consist of?
Grape-like mass of lacrimal gland cells with their apices pointed to a central lumen that converge to form intralobular ducts. The gland lack striated ducts.
What surround acini in the lacrimal gland?
Myoepithelial cells
What are myoepithelial cells?
Contractile cells are situated between the acinar cells and the basal lamina (membrane)
What do myoepithelial cells assist in?
They have contractile properties and assist in the expulsion of secretory products from the acini into the lacrimal ducts during tear production
What are the role of ductal cells in the lacrimal gland?
Transport tears from the acini to the ocular surface; intercalated and striated ducts interspersed between the acini and help in transport to tears towards the main excretory ducts.
What are the lacrimal ducts also known as?
The main excretory ducts
What is the role of the lacrimal ducts?
The ducts ensure the proper drainage and delivery of tears to maintain the health and lubrication of the eye.
What is the lacrimal apparatus?
Lacrimal Gland
Lacrimal Lake
Lacrimal Puntum
Lacrimal Canaliculi
Lacrimal Sac
Nasolacrimal Duct
What parts are the lacrimal gland made up of?
Large orbital part
Small palpebral part (upper eyelid, 1/3rd size of Orbital part)
What shape is the lacrimal gland?
C-shaped structure
What does the lacrimal gland wrap around?
LPS aponeurosis (LPS fans out to the whole of the eyelid which is where a muscle has spread out and attached itself to something)
How many glands come away from the lacrimal gland?
12
Where do the 12 glands of the lacrimal glands extend into?
The superior conjunctival fornix
Where are the small accessory glands?
Upper & lower conjunctival fornices
What’s in anatomical relation to the lacrimal gland?
Superior –
Zygomatic process of frontal bone
Anterior – orbital septum
Posterior – orbital fat
Inferolateral – lateral rectus muscle
What’s in anatomical relation to the Orbital portion of the lacrimal gland?
Superior of Orbital part =
Zygomatic processes of the frontal bone in orbit
Inferior border of Orbital part = Aponeurosis
Posteriorly =
Orbital fat
Anterior =
Septum
What’s in anatomical relation to the Palpebral portion of the lacrimal gland?
Superior part of Palpebral part = Aponeurosis
Anterior =
Septum
Posterior =
LR muscle and fat
Medial =
Septum
Where does the levator aponeurosis transmit contractions?
The levator aponeurosis transmits the contractions of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle to elevate the upper eyelid. It works in opposition to the normal pull of gravity and the palpebral part of the orbicularis oculi muscle, which close the eyelids
Where do the ducts from the palpebral part open?
Into the superior fornix
If the main lacrimal gland is not working to keep the cornea moist, what takes over?
Small accessory glands
What artery supplies the lacrimal gland?
A branch of the ophthalmic artery and enters its posterior border
What is another artery (that’s not the ophthalmic artery) that sometimes supplies the lacrimal gland
A branch of the maxillary artery being the infraorbital artery
What is the venous drainage of the lacrimal gland?
Ophthalmic Vein
Where is the lymphatic drainage in the lacrimal gland?
Lymphatic drainage joins that of the conjunctiva and passes to the superficial parotid lymph nodes.
Immune products, run parallel to venous network and empties at the top of the lungs
LEARN THE INNERVATION OF THE LACRIMAL GLAND DIAGRAM
What does parasympathetic and sympathetic stimulation of the lacrimal gland lead to?
The secretion of aqueous
Where does parasympathetic innervation of the lacrimal gland originate?
Lacrimatory nucleus of the facial nerve in the pons
How do parasympathetic presynaptic parasympathetic fibres travel?
Presynaptic parasympathetic fibres travel with the facial nerve to the geniculate ganglion, where they diverge, forming the greater superficial petrosal nerve. The greater superficial petrosal nerve passes through the foramen lacerum and is joined by the deep petrosal nerve (which contains sympathetic fibres from the superior cervical ganglion), forming the nerve of the pterygoid canal. This nerve then synapses on the pterygopalatine ganglion where it synapses (first synapse along this pathway). It then goes through the post-ganglionic branches and across the zygomatic nerve up to the communicating branches of the zygomatic nerve to the lacrimal gland.
What forms the greater superficial petrosal nerve (parasympathetic)?
Where the geniculate ganglion diverges
Where does the greater superficial petrosal nerve pass (parasympathetic)?
Through the foramen lacerum
What joins the greater superficial petrosal nerve (parasympathetic)?
The deep (or greater) petrosal nerve
What does the the Deep Petrosal Nerve contain?
Sympathetic fibres from the superior cervical ganglion
What forms the pterygoid canal (parasympathetic)?
The meeting of the superficial petrosal nerve and the deep petrosal nerve
Where does the parasympathetic fibres of the lacrimal gland synapse?
On the pterygopalatine ganglion (first synapse)
At what point do parasympathetic fibres first synapse?
At the pterygopalatine ganglion
Where do post-synaptic parasympathetic fibres first leave?
Pterygopalatine ganglion to form the zygomatic nerve, zygomaticofacial nerve and zygomaticotemporal nerve (as the lacrimal nerve is near these bones)