tear gland
Eye's moisture factory
The tear gland, also called the lacrimal gland, is a small organ above the outer corner of each eye that produces tears.
Tears keep the eye moist, wash away debris, and flow more abundantly during crying or when the eye is irritated: Her tear glands went into overdrive at the sad movie.
Of tear production
- ductTube conveying fluid
- eyelidMovable ocular covering
- conjunctivaMucous membrane lining eyelids
- corneaEye's clear outer dome
sclera · orbital · caruncle · punctum · tarsal · ocular · ophthalmic · secretory
Coating to reduce friction
- moistureSmall amounts of liquid
- secretionSubstance released by glands
- hydrationBodily fluid replenishment
- antibacterialKills or inhibits germs
immunoglobulin · mucous · proteinaceous · reflex · basal · blinking · film · drainage
Shedding tears audibly
- sobbingConvulsive crying aloud
- tearsViolent pulls apart
- emotionalShowing strong feelings
- reflexInvoluntary stimulus response
grief · sadness · anguish · distress · wail · whimper · bawl · snivel
Insufficient tear production
- Sjögren'sAutoimmune disorder targeting exocrine glands
- blockageObstruction halting movement
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
obstruction · keratoconjunctivitis · atrophy · tumor · swelling · biopsy · surgery · probing
lacrimal
Of tear production
- ductTube conveying fluid
- eyelidMovable ocular covering
- conjunctivaMucous membrane lining eyelids
cornea · sclera · orbital · caruncle · punctum · tarsal · ocular · ophthalmic · secretory · exocrine
lubrication
Coating to reduce friction
- moistureSmall amounts of liquid
- secretionSubstance released by glands
- hydrationBodily fluid replenishment
antibacterial · immunoglobulin · mucous · proteinaceous · reflex · basal · blinking · film · drainage · production
weeping
Shedding tears audibly
reflex · grief · sadness · anguish · distress · wail · whimper · bawl · snivel · mournful
dry eye
Insufficient tear production
- Sjögren'sAutoimmune disorder targeting exocrine glands
- blockageObstruction halting movement
- inflammationProtective tissue response
infection · obstruction · keratoconjunctivitis · atrophy · tumor · swelling · biopsy · surgery · probing
- eye anatomyeyeball, cornea, iris, retina, pupil
- tear systemtears, lacrimal apparatus, tearing, nasolacrimal duct, punctum
tear, gland, teardrop, glandular, tear ducts, lacrimation, tear duct, tear glands