Gross characteristics of normal human lacrimal glands.

ABSTRACT Because human lacrimal glands are rarely completely removed at surgery and not extirpated during routine autopsy, knowledge of their normal measurements and orbital position has not been significantly updated from early descriptions. Judged retrospectively, these have appreciable shortcomings. For example, most published lacrimal gland weights and dimensions have not always been accompanied by such basic information as the mean or range of values, the number of glands examined, the donors' genders and ages, and whether the specimens came from living donors (exenteration), recently deceased ones (autopsy), or embalmed cadavers. Consequently, it is appropriate to survey the literature about a fundamental aspect of this major contributor to aqueous tear secretion - its gross anatomy. The data reviewed would constitute the basis for future studies to be carried out in conformity with modern standards for literary citation and performance of statistical analyses. These should better delineate normal human lacrimal gland mass, size, and contours and supplement current knowledge of variations in the organ's orbital relationships with extraocular muscles and the globe. By doing so, more definitive characterizations of these as well as the prevalence of each will be obtained. Perhaps additional clinical relevance of lacrimal gland gross anatomy will result.