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Tear Duct Anatomy

Tear duct anatomy

When the eye blinks, the lid pushes the tears across the eye into the drains (puncta) at the inner corner. The drains empty into channels (canaliculi) that connect the eye with the nose. The channels drain into a tear sac (lacrimal sac) that lies beside the nose. The sac narrows into the tear duct (lacrimal duct), which drains through the nasal bone into the nostril.

Current as of: March 1, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
John Pope MD - Pediatrics
Anne C. Poinier MD - Internal Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Christopher J. Rudnisky MD, MPH, FRCSC - Ophthalmology

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