The spelling of the word "nervus lacrimalis" may seem daunting, but it can be broken down phonetically using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable, "nervus," is pronounced with a short "e" sound, followed by the "r" sound and an "uh" vowel sound. The second word, "lacrimalis," can be pronounced with a hard "k" sound followed by "ruh" and then "muh" and "uh" sounds. Together, "nervus lacrimalis" refers to the nerve that controls the flow of tears in the eye.
Nervus lacrimalis is a term used in anatomy to refer to the lacrimal nerve. The lacrimal nerve is a branch of the ophthalmic nerve, which is one of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve in the head.
The nervus lacrimalis specifically innervates the lacrimal gland, which is responsible for producing tears, as well as the conjunctiva, which is the thin tissue that covers the front surface of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids.
The function of the nervus lacrimalis is to transmit sensory information from these structures to the brain. It carries pain, temperature, and touch sensations from the lacrimal gland and conjunctiva to the trigeminal ganglion and then to the brainstem.
In addition to sensory information, the nervus lacrimalis also carries parasympathetic fibers that control the production of tears. These parasympathetic fibers originate in the superior salivatory nucleus of the brainstem and synapse in the pterygopalatine ganglion. From there, the postganglionic fibers travel through the nervus lacrimalis to stimulate tear production in the lacrimal gland.
In summary, the nervus lacrimalis is a branch of the trigeminal nerve that provides sensory innervation to the lacrimal gland and conjunctiva and also carries parasympathetic fibers that regulate tear production.
Lacrymal nerve, a branch of the ophthalmic; sensory nerve of the upper eyelid, conjunctiva, and lacrymal gland.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "nervus lacrimalis" has its etymology rooted in Latin. "Nervus" means "nerve" in Latin, and "lacrima" means "tear". Thus, "nervus lacrimalis" translates to "tear nerve" or "nerve of tears". This term refers to the nerve responsible for innervating the lacrimal gland, which produces tears in the eye.