Lacrimal gland
and Lisa Vogel, medical editorEva Rudolf-Müller is a freelance writer in the medical team. She studied human medicine and newspaper sciences and has repeatedly worked in both areas - as a doctor in the clinic, as a reviewer, and as a medical journalist for various specialist journals. She is currently working in online journalism, where a wide range of medicine is offered to everyone.
More about the expertsLisa Vogel studied departmental journalism with a focus on medicine and biosciences at Ansbach University and deepened her journalistic knowledge in the master's degree in multimedia information and communication. This was followed by a traineeship in the editorial team. Since September 2020 she has been writing as a freelance journalist for
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The lacrimal gland produces most of the tear fluid that is supposed to protect the eyeball from drying out. The tear fluid has a high salt content and also has bactericidal properties. If too many tears flow that the tear duct cannot manage, they will flow down the lower edge of the eyelid. The lacrimal gland is part of the tear system. Read more about the lacrimal gland!
What is the lacrimal gland?
The lacrimal gland (glandula lacrimalis) is a paired gland about the size of a hazelnut, which is located in the frontal bone slightly above and to the side of each eyeball. The tendon of a muscle that lifts the upper eyelid divides it into two parts: a larger, upper part that rests against the bone and a smaller, lower part that rests against the lid.
In addition to this main lacrimal gland, there are also several small lacrimal glands in the upper and lower eyelid conjunctival folds. The eye would not dry out, even if the two large lacrimal glands were removed.
Lacrimal system
The lacrimal gland is part of the tear system. This also includes the following structures:
- Conjunctival sac
- Lacrimal tubules
- Tear sac
- Lacrimal duct
The tear fluid reaches the fold between the conjunctiva of the eyeball and the upper eyelid from the outer upper corner of the eye via small ducts in the main lacrimal glands. Through the movements of the eyelids, the tear fluid flows through the conjunctival sac to the inner corner of the eye, where it collects in the tear lake.
There are tear points that open into tear tubes, into which the tear fluid is sucked by a pump mechanism. After a few bends, these tear tubes end in the tear sac, which is close to the nose. The lacrimal sac opens into the lacrimal duct, through which the lacrimal fluid ultimately drains under the inferior turbinate.
What is the function of the lacrimal gland?
The function of the lacrimal gland and the entire lacrimal system is primarily to moisten the cornea and conjunctiva in order to protect them from drying out.
Further tasks:
- Foreign bodies that get into the eye are removed from the eye by the tear fluid with the blink of an eye.
- Antibacterial enzymes in the tear fluid prevent bacterial eye infections.
- The tear fluid provides nourishment and the swelling of the cornea.
What problems can the lacrimal gland cause?
If the lacrimal gland is blocked, the tears run over the lower edge of the eyelid and onto the cheeks. This is what doctors call eye drops (tears, epiphora). The reason for an obstruction to the drainage can be that the lacrimal duct is narrowed or the lacrimal sac is inflamed. This can also be due to a congenital closure of the lacrimal duct.
Other possible complaints related to the lacrimal glands are:
- Inflammation of the bags under the eyes (dacrocystitis): If the tears that do not run off build up in the bags under the eyes, germs can settle and cause inflammation.
- Decreased tear formation: It leads to punctiform opacities of the cornea and epithelial exfoliation.
- Poisoning: Bloody tears can result from certain types of poisoning (with muscarin or alkyl phosphates).
- benign or malignant tumors of the lacrimal gland
