The lacrimal hamulus is a small, hook-like bony projection of the
lacrimal bone. It is a continuation of the
posterior lacrimal crest. It articulates with the
lacrimal tubercle
The lateral margin of the groove of the frontal process of the maxilla is named the anterior lacrimal crest, and is continuous below with the orbital margin; at its junction with the orbital surface is a small tubercle, the lacrimal tubercle, whi ...
of the
maxilla
In vertebrates, the maxilla (: maxillae ) is the upper fixed (not fixed in Neopterygii) bone of the jaw formed from the fusion of two maxillary bones. In humans, the upper jaw includes the hard palate in the front of the mouth. The two maxil ...
, and completes the upper orifice of the
lacrimal canaliculus. It sometimes exists as a separate piece, and is then called the lesser lacrimal bone.
Structure
The lacrimal hamulus is a small, hook-like bony projection of the
lacrimal bone. It is a continuation of the
posterior lacrimal crest of the lacrimal bone.
It articulates with the
lacrimal tubercle
The lateral margin of the groove of the frontal process of the maxilla is named the anterior lacrimal crest, and is continuous below with the orbital margin; at its junction with the orbital surface is a small tubercle, the lacrimal tubercle, whi ...
of the
maxilla
In vertebrates, the maxilla (: maxillae ) is the upper fixed (not fixed in Neopterygii) bone of the jaw formed from the fusion of two maxillary bones. In humans, the upper jaw includes the hard palate in the front of the mouth. The two maxil ...
.
This completes the upper orifice of the
lacrimal canaliculus.
Relations
The lacrimal hamulus is usually around 9 mm from the
infraorbital foramen, around 20 mm from the
inferior orbital fissure
The inferior orbital fissure is a gap between the Greater wing of sphenoid bone, greater wing of sphenoid bone, and the maxilla. It connects the Orbit (anatomy), orbit (anteriorly) with the infratemporal fossa and pterygopalatine fossa (posterio ...
, and around 31 mm from the beginning of the
posterior lacrimal crest.
Variation
The lacrimal hamulus develops from its own site of
primary ossification of
cartilage
Cartilage is a resilient and smooth type of connective tissue. Semi-transparent and non-porous, it is usually covered by a tough and fibrous membrane called perichondrium. In tetrapods, it covers and protects the ends of long bones at the joints ...
. Because of this, it sometimes exists as a separate piece, and is then called the lesser lacrimal bone.
See also
*
Hamulus
References
{{Authority control
Bones of the head and neck