Lacrimal puncta and canaliculi
Canaliculi lacrimales
Sensory (eye & ear)OrgansHeadLeft and right
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- What it is
- Two tiny openings (puncta) on small elevations near the inner end of each lid margin lead into fine channels that run 2 mm vertically and then 8 mm horizontally, joining as a common canaliculus that enters the lacrimal sac.
- Function
- Drain tears from the eye surface; blinking pumps them towards the sac.
- Size
- Puncta ~0.3 mm wide, about 6 mm lateral to the inner canthus; canaliculi ~10 mm long, 0.5-1 mm wide.
- Clinical note
- A punctal plug is inserted to keep tears on the eye in dry-eye disease.