Lacrimal bone

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 1 Dec 2021

The lacrimal bones are paired craniofacial bones forming the anterior aspect of the medial orbital walls

Gross anatomy

The lacrimal bones have two surfaces and four borders. The lateral orbital surface is divided by a vertical posterior lacrimal crest with an anterior fossa for lacrimal sac and lacrimal hamulus which with the maxilla forms the upper orifice of the nasolacrimal canal which contains the nasolacrimal duct. The medial nasal surface is part of the middle meatus and meets the anterior ethmoidal air cells. The anterior border articulates with the frontal process of the maxilla at the lacrimomaxillary suture, and the posterior border with the ethmoidal orbital plate. The superior border meets the frontal bone and inferiorly, the maxillary orbital surface.

Attachments

The orbicularis oculi muscle is attached to the orbital surface and posterior lacrimal crest.

Ossification

The lacrimal bone ossifies from a single center which appears around the twelfth week in the mesenchyme around the nasal capsule.

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