The lacrimal gland is located lateral to the eyeball in the lacrimal fossa in the frontal bone. Tears are produced and secreted in response to sympathetic and parasympathetic innervations that is carried on the vidian nerve through the vidian canal. The parasympathetic fibres synapse at the pterygopalatine ganglion before being carried on the zygomatic nerve to the lacrimal branch of the ophthalmic nerve. This lacrimal nerve also carries general sensation to the gland.
The lacrimal sac lies in the medial orbit in the lacrimal fossa of the lacrimal bone and it is this structure that drains directly into the nasolacrimal duct.
The gland can be divided into two parts: the palpebral and orbital.
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