The lacrimal glands are paired almond-shaped glands, located in or near the orbital region, that secrete the aqueous layer of the tear film.[WP]. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacrimal_gland http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6601-2165 ]
Synonyms: glandula lacrimalis lacrimal-preorbital gland
Term information
- Wikipedia:Lacrimal_gland
- BTO:0000044
- FMA:59101
- UMLS:C0022907 (ncithesaurus:Lacrimal_Gland)
- MA:0001296
- EV:0100339
- VHOG:0001476
- Wikipedia:Preorbital_gland
- EMAPA:35463
- SCTID:181147003
- CALOHA:TS-0512
- EFO:0001389
- NCIT:C12346
uberon_slim, efo_slim, pheno_slim, organ_slim
Lobular organ the parenchyma of which consists of glandular acini which communicate the lacrimal sac. Examples: There only two instances, right lacrimal and left lacrimal glands.
The preorbital gland is a paired exocrine gland found in many species of hoofed animals, which is homologous to the lacrimal gland found in humans. These glands are trenchlike slits of dark blue to black, nearly bare skin extending from the medial canthus of each eye. They are lined by a combination of sebaceous and sudoriferous glands, and they produce secretions which contain pheromones and other semiochemical compounds. Ungulates frequently deposit these secretions on twigs and grass as a means of communication with other animals. The preorbital gland serves different roles in different species. Pheromone-containing secretions from the preorbital gland may serve to establish an animal's dominance (especially in preparation for breeding), mark its territory, or simply to produce a pleasurable sensation to the animal. Because of its critical role in scent marking, the preorbital gland is usually considered as a type of scent gland. A further function of these glands may be to produce antimicrobial compounds against skin pathogens. Antimicrobial compounds found in these glands may be biosynthesized by the animal itself, or by microorganisms that live in these glands[Wikipedia:Preorbital_gland].
https://github.com/obophenotype/uberon/wiki/Modeling-paired-structures-Design-Pattern
Innervation is highly complex and species-specific
In humans, they are situated in the upper, outer portion of each orbit
Term relations
- exocrine gland
- eye gland
- ectoderm-derived structure
- lateral gland of orbital region
- develops from some lacrimal gland bud
- contributes to morphology of some lacrimal apparatus