lacrimals


 * The Lacrimal Bone**

The Lacrimal bones are the smallest and most fragile of the facial bones. They are paried left and right and assist in forming the anterior portion of the medial wall of each eye orbit. They are basicaly rectangular with two surfaces and four borders. Each of the borders articulate with the bones that surround the Lacrimal. The Orbital or Lateral Surface contributes to the eye orbit, while the Medial Surface assists in forming a small portion of the nasal passage. The orbital surface possesses a sharp superior-inferior running ridge called the Posterior Lacrimal Crest which divides this surface into an Orbial Plate and the Lacrimal Sulcus. The sulcus, along with a contiguous sulcus on the maxillae, assists in forming the lacrimal fossa which contains the lacrimal duct in life. The duct connects the medial corner of the eye to the nasal passage and allows tears from the eye to be shunted into the nasal passage.