{{Short description|Part of human eye anatomy}} {{Infobox anatomy | Name = Lacrimal punctum | Latin = puncta lacrimalia | Image = Right upper lacrimal punctum encircled.png | Caption = Macro image of the right upper lacrimal punctum in a male human eye. Eyeball retained for scale. | System = | Precursor = }} The '''lacrimal punctum''' ({{plural form}}: '''puncta''') or '''lacrimal point''' is a minute opening on the summits of the lacrimal papillae, seen on the margins of the eyelids at the lateral extremity of the lacrimal lake. There are two lacrimal puncta in the medial (inside) portion of each eyelid. Normally, the puncta dip into the lacrimal lake.
Together, they function to collect tears produced by the lacrimal glands. The fluid is conveyed through the lacrimal canaliculi to the lacrimal sac, and thence via the nasolacrimal duct to the inferior nasal meatus of the nasal passage.
The size of the lacrimal punctum varies widely, but it is generally accepted that the lower punctum is wider than the upper one.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Carter |first1=Keith D. |last2=Nelson |first2=Christine C. |last3=Martonyi |first3=Csaba L. |date=1988 |title=Size Variation of the Lacrimal Punctum in Adults |url=http://journals.lww.com/00002341-198804040-00006 |journal=Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery |language=en |volume=4 |issue=4 |pages=231–234 |doi=10.1097/00002341-198804040-00006 |pmid=3154744 |issn=0740-9303|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Additionally, studies have shown that males have wider puncta than females, and among females, those of premenopausal age have wider lacrimal puncta than those of postmenopausal age.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Naz |first1=Hasan |last2=Tara |first2=Shruthi |last3=Reddy |first3=Jagadeesh K |last4=Prabu |first4=V Rajesh |last5=Thulasidas |first5=Mithun |date=February 2025 |title=Morphological analysis of lacrimal punctum using anterior segment optical coherence tomography in different age groups |journal=Indian Journal of Ophthalmology |language=en |volume=73 |issue=2 |pages=205–209 |doi=10.4103/IJO.IJO_1801_24 |doi-access=free |issn=0301-4738 |pmc=11991543 |pmid=39853140}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hu |first1=Jun |last2=Xiang |first2=Nan |last3=Li |first3=Gui gang |last4=Luo |first4=Ban |last5=Zhang |first5=Yuan |last6=Zhu |first6=Yingting |last7=Liu |first7=Rong |date=2021-04-23 |title=Imaging and anatomical parameters of the lacrimal punctum and vertical canaliculus using optical coherence tomography |url=https://www.medsci.org/v18p2493.htm |journal=International Journal of Medical Sciences |language=en |volume=18 |issue=12 |pages=2493–2499 |doi=10.7150/ijms.58291 |issn=1449-1907 |pmc=8176177 |pmid=34104080}}</ref>
==Clinical significance==
It is believed that there is a direct correlation between lacrimal punctum size and incidence of dry eyes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=Ming |last2=Hedges |first2=Jerris R. |last3=Choi |first3=So Yung |last4=Liu |first4=Keke |last5=Lin |first5=Szu Yuan |date=April 2022 |title=Can lacrimal punctum size link to the severity of dry eye disease? |journal=Taiwan Journal of Ophthalmology |language=en |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=198–201 |doi=10.4103/tjo.tjo_15_21 |doi-access=free |issn=2211-5056 |pmc=9262022 |pmid=35813802}}</ref> In patients with dry eye syndrome, the lacrimal puncta can be blocked using punctal plugs, in an effort to conserve tears and keep the eyes moist.
==Additional images== <gallery> File:Gray895.png|The tarsal glands, etc., seen from the inner surface of the eyelids. (Puncta lacrimalia visible at center left.) File:Gray896.png|The lacrimal apparatus. Right side. Note outdated terminology: The "Lacrimal ducts" in Gray's are now called "Lacrimal canals". File:Lacrimal punctum.jpg|A close up of a lacrimal punctum. File:Lower lacrimal punctum.jpg|Lower lacrimal punctum through slit lamp biomicroscope File:Lacrimal puncta grid.png|All four lacrimal puncta in the human body, labeled and arranged in a grid </gallery>
==See also== *Imperforate lacrimal punctum *Lacrimal apparatus *Punctal plug
==References== {{Gray's}} <references/>
==External links== * [http://www.aafp.org/afp/980600ap/carter.html Diagram and discussion at aafp.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020174920/http://www.aafp.org/afp/980600ap/carter.html |date=2011-10-20 }}
{{Accessory organs of the eye}} {{Portal bar|Anatomy}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Human eye anatomy