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FEATURED BOOKS ON THE TEAR SYSTEM FROM BARNES & NOBLE.COM:
Lacrimal sacs
Hollow spaces that the lacrimal canals drain tears into. The lacrimal canals are curved, tube shaped structures that drain tears from the eyes and carry them to the lacrimal sacs. Below is a picture of the lacrimal sacs:
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The yellow structure in the picture, next to the lacrimal canals, is the lacrimal sac. Each eye has a lacrimal sac for tears to drain into. Flat muscles that cover the lacrimal sacs, squeeze and release them during blinking. This helps produce a suction effect that draws away extra tears when blinking. This is why people blink when they cry.
The lacrimal sacs are the upper parts of the nasolacrimal ducts. Nasolacrimal ducts are tube shaped areas that are below the lacrimal sac and carry tears down through the bone, leading to an opening in the nose. The nasolacrimal duct can also be seen in the picture above. For a description of the other items in the picture above, see the entry for lacrimal apparatus. The lacrimal apparatus is the system in the body that produces and drains tears. |
Lacrimal sacs are also known as saccus lacrimalis, dacryocyst, sacculus lacrimalis, and tear sacs. Lacrimal sacs comes from the Latin word "lacrima" meaning "tear," and the Latin word "saccus" meaning "a bag." Put the two words together and you get "a bag (of) tears."
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