Lacrimal bone

Lacrimal bone

The Lacrimal bone is a small and fragile bone of the human skull. It is roughly rectangular in shape and is located in the medial wall of the orbit (eye socket), between the ethmoid bone and the maxilla.

Structure

The lacrimal bone is the smallest bone in the face and has two surfaces and four borders. It has two main parts: the orbital part, which is located in the front, and the nasal part, which is located at the back.

Orbital part

The orbital part of the lacrimal bone is smooth and forms part of the medial wall of the orbit. It is bordered by the frontal process of the maxilla.

Nasal part

The nasal part of the lacrimal bone is grooved by the lacrimal sac, which is part of the nasolacrimal duct that drains tears from the eye into the nasal cavity.

Development

The lacrimal bone is formed from the intramembranous ossification process. It is one of the last bones to finish ossification.

Clinical significance

Due to its location and size, the lacrimal bone is often involved in fractures of the orbit. Damage to the lacrimal bone can also obstruct the nasolacrimal duct, leading to dacryocystitis, an infection of the lacrimal sac.

See also

• Human skull
• Orbit (anatomy)
• Nasolacrimal duct

References

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Lacrimal bone

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  Lacrimal bone
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  Orbital bones
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  Left lacrimal bone - close-up - animation
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  Orbital cavity
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