TEAR SAC Meaning and
Definition
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A tear sac, also known as lacrimal sac or lacrimal bolsa, is a small anatomical structure located in the inner corner of the eye, between the eye socket (orbit) and the nose. It is a dilation or pouch-like structure formed by the upper portion of the nasolacrimal duct.
The tear sac plays a vital role in the drainage of tears produced by the lacrimal gland. Tears are essential for maintaining the health and lubrication of the eye surface. When the lacrimal gland produces tears, they are spread across the eye each time we blink and eventually drain into the tear sac through tiny channels called lacrimal puncta located in the eyelids.
The functioning of the tear sac is essential to keep the eye properly hydrated and to remove debris, irritants, or excess tear fluid. From the tear sac, the tears flow further down into the nasolacrimal duct, which connects it to the nasal cavity. This way, the tears eventually reach the back of the throat, explaining why crying results in a runny nose.
If there is any obstruction or blockage along the tear drainage pathway, such as in the tear sac or nasolacrimal duct, it can lead to a variety of symptoms like excessive tearing, blurred vision, and recurring eye infections. Conditions like dacryocystitis, commonly known as an infection of the tear sac, may require medical intervention or even surgical procedures to restore normal tear drainage and alleviate symptoms.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for TEAR SAC
- rear sac
- fear sac
- gear sac
- year sac
- 6ear sac
- 5ear sac
- twar sac
- tsar sac
- tdar sac
- trar sac
- t4ar sac
- t3ar sac
- tezr sac
- tesr sac
- tewr sac
- teqr sac
- teae sac
- tead sac
- teaf sac
Etymology of TEAR SAC
The word "tear sac" is composed of two parts: "tear" and "sac".
The term "tear" originates from Old English "tear" or "teare", which comes from the Proto-Germanic word "*tahwōną". It is related to the Old High German "zahar" and Old Norse "tār", both meaning "tear" or "drop of liquid". The word ultimately traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*dah₁-", which means "to flow" or "to run".
The word "sac" comes from the Latin "saccus", meaning "sack" or "bag". It entered English through Old French "sac", which shares the same Latin origin.
Similar spelling words for TEAR SAC
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