Lacrimal Bone Anatomy

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

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The lacrimal bone (L., lacrima – tear) is a small facial bone that forms a portion of the anterior medial wall of the orbit.

Lacrimal Bone Anatomy on Lateral View:

  1. image descriptionLacrimal fossa (or lacrimal sulcus; fossa for lacrimal sac) – depression along the junction of the lacrimal bone and maxilla bone that holds the lacrimal sac; tears formed by the sac drain through a duct into the nasal cavity.
Lacrimal bone on lateral view with zoom-in view
Lacrimal fossa on lateral view with label
Lacrimal fossa on lateral view highlighted with color and label
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  1. image descriptionOrbital plate (or orbital surface) – thin plate of bone that forms a portion of the medial wall of the orbit posterior to lacrimal fossa.

Learn the bones of the body with these interactive skeletal system quizzes.

Lacrimal bone on lateral view with zoom-in view
Orbital plate on lateral view with label
Orbital plate on lateral view highlighted with color and label
Slide for label
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Test yourself:

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An image of the lacrimal bone with labels of orbital plate and lacrimal fossa.
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