lachrymal
/ˈlakrɪm(ə)l
/(also lacrimal or lacrymal)
adjective
1 formal or literary Connected with weeping or tears: that hysterical, then lachrymal, then guilt-ridden hour
2 (lacrimal) Physiology & Anatomy Concerned with the secretion of tears: lacrimal cells...
- From the lacrimal sacs, tears move down through the nasolacrimal duct and drain into the back of the nose.
- A simple and easy-to-perform test assessing the function of the lacrimal glands is the Schirmer's test.
- This will consequently elevate the lacrimal punctum into a more favourable position so that the tear film will drain into it more readily.
noun
1 (lacrimal or lacrimal bone) Anatomy A small bone forming part of the eye socket.The area corresponding to the lacrimals, prefrontals and posterior nasals is difficult to recognise....
- The lacrimal bones are thin bones that form the anterior portion of the medial walls of the individual orbits.
- The lacrimal bone is a small and fragile bone at the inner orbit of the eye through which the lacrimal duct runs.
2 short for lachrymal vase.
Origin
Late Middle English (in sense 2 of the adjective): from medieval Latin lachrymalis, from Latin lacrima 'tear'.