Lacrimal groove

Sulcus in the jaw that leads to the sinus opening

Lacrimal groove
Left lacrimal bone. Orbital surface. Enlarged. (Lacrimal groove visible at left.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	sulcus lacrimalis maxillae
TA98	A02.1.09.003
TA2	746
FMA	57613
Anatomical terms of bone [edit on Wikidata]

On the nasal surface of the body of the maxilla, in front of the opening of the sinus is a deep groove, the lacrimal groove (or lacrimal sulcus), which is converted into the nasolacrimal canal, by the lacrimal bone and inferior nasal concha; this canal opens into the inferior meatus of the nose and transmits the nasolacrimal duct.

Additional images

Horizontal section of nasal and orbital cavities.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 160 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

The facial skeleton of the skull

Maxilla

Surfaces	Anterior: fossae (Incisive fossa, Canine fossa) Infraorbital foramen Orbital bones Anterior nasal spine Infratemporal: Alveolar canals Maxillary tuberosity Orbital: Infraorbital groove Infraorbital canal Nasal: Greater palatine canal
Processes	Zygomatic process Frontal process (Agger nasi, Anterior lacrimal crest) Alveolar process Palatine process (Incisive foramen, Incisive canals, Foramina of Scarpa, Incisive bone, Anterior nasal spine)
Other	Body of maxilla Maxillary sinus

Zygomatic

Palatine

Fossae	Pterygopalatine fossa Pterygoid fossa
Plates	Horizontal plate (Posterior nasal spine) Perpendicular plate (Greater palatine canal, Sphenopalatine foramen) Hard palate
Processes	Pyramidal Orbital Sphenoidal

Mandible

Body	external surface (Chin, Jaw, Mandibular prominence, Mandibular symphysis, Lingual foramen, Mental protuberance, Mental foramen, Mandibular incisive canal) internal surface (Mental spine, Mylohyoid line, Sublingual fovea, Submandibular fovea) Alveolar part
Ramus	Mylohyoid groove Mandibular canal Lingula Mandibular foramen Angle Coronoid process Mandibular notch Condyloid process Pterygoid fovea