What Is the Lacrimal Sac?

The sac-like structure located in the anterior and inferior part of the lacrimal fossa formed by the lacrimal bone and the frontal process of the maxilla is the most inflated part of the entire lacrimal duct. The top of the lacrimal sac is a blind end, and its highest point is about 2 to 3 mm above the inner condyle. There is an opening of the lacrimal canaliculus in the middle, and the lower opening is continuous to the nasolacrimal duct. . The shape of the normal lacrimal sac roughly corresponds to that of the lacrimal sac, and is pear-shaped. The internal cavity is a crack-like space, with a volume of about 20 cubic millimeters, and an injection volume of up to 120 cubic millimeters. The average length is 12 millimeters, the front and rear widths are 4 to 8 millimeters, and the left and right widths are 2 to 3 millimeters. In the living body, it can be seen under the x-ray by injecting lipiodol. Pathological changes can be enlarged (such as mucus cysts) or reduced (such as lacrimal sac fibrous atrophy). The lacrimal sac is in front of the lacrimal fascia, orbicularis muscle and skin; the back is the bone wall, separated by lacrimal fascia or cellular tissue; the medial upper part is the anterior ethmoid sinus, and the lower part is the middle nasal passage. At the millimeter, there are internal iliac arteries and veins running parallel to the medial condyle subcutaneously, over the medial ligament of the eyelid. During lacrimal sac surgery, the skin incision should not exceed 3 mm of the medial condyle to avoid injury to the vein.

The sac-like structure located in the anterior and inferior part of the lacrimal fossa formed by the lacrimal bone and the frontal process of the maxilla is the most inflated part of the entire lacrimal duct. The top of the lacrimal sac is a blind end, and its highest point is about 2 to 3 mm above the inner condyle. There is an opening of the lacrimal canaliculus in the middle, and the lower opening is continuous to the nasolacrimal duct. The lumen at the junction of the two is narrow and there is no obvious boundary. . The shape of the normal lacrimal sac roughly corresponds to that of the lacrimal sac, and is pear-shaped. The internal cavity is a crack-like space, with a volume of about 20 cubic millimeters, and an injection volume of up to 120 cubic millimeters. The average length is 12 millimeters, the front and rear widths are 4 to 8 millimeters, and the left and right widths are 2 to 3 millimeters. In the living body, it can be seen under the x-ray by injecting lipiodol. Pathological changes can be enlarged (such as mucus cysts) or reduced (such as lacrimal sac fibrous atrophy). The lacrimal sac is in front of the lacrimal fascia, orbicularis muscle and skin; the back is the bone wall, separated by lacrimal fascia or cellular tissue; the medial upper part is the anterior ethmoid sinus, and the lower part is the middle nasal passage. At the millimeter, there are internal iliac arteries and veins running parallel to the medial condyle subcutaneously, over the medial ligament of the eyelid. During lacrimal sac surgery, the skin incision should not exceed 3 mm of the medial condyle to avoid injury to the vein.

Chinese name

Lacrimal sac

Location

Anterior orbital medial wall

Upper end

Blind end, higher than internal condyle

Lower part

Nasolacrimal duct

Lacrimal sac I. Overview:

1. A component of the lacrimal apparatus. Located in the lacrimal fossa on the inner wall of the orbit. The upper end of the lacrimal sac is a blind end, and the lower part migrates to the nasolacrimal duct, opening to the lower nasal passage. The lacrimal sac and the nasolacrimal duct are attached to the periosteum of the lacrimal fossa. The mediastinal ligament of the eyelid is stretched in front of the lacrimal sac. When the orbicularis oris muscle contracts, the medial eyelid ligament is stretched to expand the lacrimal sac and promote tear flow. The more common clinical dacryocystitis is chronic dacryocystitis.

Dacryocystitis

1. Can be divided into chronic, acute and congenital dacryocystitis. Chronic dacryocystitis is the most common, due to congenital lacrimal duct obstruction or stenosis, which causes tears to stay in the lacrimal sac, with bacterial infection. More common in middle-aged and elderly women. Related to trachoma, rhinitis, lacrimal inflammation and so on. The main manifestations are tear overflow, often with conjunctival congestion, and eczema on the skin nearby. In the dacryocystic area, there are mucus or mucopurulent secretions flowing from the lacrimal dots; due to the large amount of secretions stored, the lacrimal sac expands, and a dacryocystitis fluid cyst can form. Chronic dacryocystitis as an infection of the eye, such as eye trauma or surgery, can easily cause purulent infections. The complete treatment of this disease must rely on surgery, lacrimal nasal anastomosis is the preferred method, when anastomosis can not be used, lacrimal sac removal can be used. Acute dacryocystitis occurs mostly on the basis of chronic dacryocystitis, manifested as redness, swelling and tenderness of the skin in the lacrimal sac area. The inflammation can spread to the eyelids, nose and cheeks, and in severe cases, chills and fever. A few days later, an abscess formed, draining pus, and sometimes a lacrimal fistula. Early treatment is feasible with hot compresses. If antibiotics are used, if an abscess is formed, it should be excised and drained. After the inflammation has completely subsided, it should be treated as chronic dacryocystitis.

2. Dacryocystitis often occurs on the basis of nasolacrimal duct obstruction and retention of secretions in the lacrimal sac. Chronic dacryocystitis is due to nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Bacteria and lacrimal fluid accumulate in the blocked lacrimal sac and often stimulate the mucosa of the lacrimal sac wall. Chronic dacryocystitis is a prominent symptom. If not actively treated May develop into acute dacryocystitis, and because of the frequent entry of bacteria into the conjunctival sac, conjunctivitis will last forever. Acute dacryocystitis, which often occurs on the basis of chronic dacryocystitis, is characterized by redness, swelling, pain and tenderness of the skin in the lacrimal sac area. In severe cases, it may have symptoms such as general discomfort and fever. After the abscess matures, it can be punctured by the skin. In the acute phase, antibiotics should be applied throughout the body to prevent the spread of inflammation and local compresses 3 to 4 times a day. For chronic dacryocystitis, pus should be squeezed out at any time, and the eye drops should be dripped with antibiotics, and the lacrimal sacs should be rinsed with antibiotics every day or every other day. After the pus disappears, probing is performed, and most of them need surgery.