Drainage system for tears

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The tear drainage system has two parts. The first part consists of two different types of glands that produce tears. These tear glands are found:

In the lining of the eyelids. These glands (accessory lacrimal glands) start making tears at birth and constantly produce small amounts of tears that wash the surface of the eyes and prevent drying.
In the bones that hold and protect the eyes (the orbits). These glands (main lacrimal glands) produce larger amounts of tears when a person cries or when something irritates the eyes, such as smoke. Usually, main lacrimal glands start making tears at birth but may not produce tears until several weeks later.

The second part of the system drains tears from the eyes into the nose.

When your eye blinks, the lids push 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 tear sacs (lacrimal sacs) that lie beside the nose.
The sacs narrow into tear ducts (lacrimal ducts) that drain through the nasal bone into the nostrils.

See an illustration of the tear duct drainage system .

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Author	Debby Golonka, MPH
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, FRCSC - Ophthalmology
Last Updated	April 11, 2008

Last updated:	April 11, 2008
Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, FRCSC - Ophthalmology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC

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