The lacrimal bone is a thin, fragile bone found in the human skull. Its spelling is derived from the Latin word "lacrima" which means tear. The pronunciation of this word is /ˈlækrɪməl/ (la-KRI-məl) in phonetic transcription. The "c" is pronounced as a soft "k" sound, and the "ri" is pronounced as one syllable. The stress is on the second syllable (KRI), while the "a" is pronounced as a short vowel sound. It is one of the smallest and most delicate bones in the human body.
The lacrimal bone is a small, thin, and delicate bone located on the inner corner of the eye sockets, forming part of the orbital cavity and the lateral wall of the nasal cavity. It is one of the smallest bones in the skull and is bilateral, meaning that there is a lacrimal bone on each side of the face.
The primary function of the lacrimal bone is to house the lacrimal gland, which produces tears and lubricates the eye surface. It also contributes to the formation of the lacrimal fossa, a shallow depression where tears collect before draining into the nasal cavity through the nasolacrimal duct. The lacrimal bone also participates in the formation of the medial part of the eye socket, contributing to the support and protection of the eye.
Anatomically, the lacrimal bone is thin and fragile, resembling the shape of an irregular rectangle. It consists of two main parts, the lateral part or the lamina, which forms the anterior part of the medial wall of the orbit, and the orbital part, which curves posteriorly and connects with the ethmoid bone and frontal bone. Ultimately, these connections contribute to the overall structure and integrity of the skull.
Overall, the lacrimal bone plays a crucial role in tear production, drainage, and the structural framework of the eye socket and nasal cavity.
The word "lacrimal" comes from the Latin term "lacrima", which means "tear". The lacrimal bone is named so because it forms a part of the nasal cavity where tears are produced.