Measurements of lacrimal glands from cadavers, with descriptions of typical glands and three gross variants.
OBJECTIVE
To measure cadaveric human lacrimal glands.


METHODS
Excised lacrimal glands from 22 male and 23 female embalmed cadavers were stored in embalming fluid. They were then blotted, weighed, and measured using dividers and a digital micrometer.


RESULTS
Besides the typical gland (Type I), three gross variants were found. The subencapsulated variant (Type II) has dense connective tissue covering its deep surface. This would prevent the usual horizontal positioning of the lobes relative to the levator palpebrae superioris aponeurosis (lpsa), causing the latter to extend but minimally beneath the free edge of the orbital lobe. Consequently, the gland lies mainly beside the globe and angulated parallel to the lpsa. Its adjacent palpebral lobe lies beneath the latter. The bilayered variant (Type III) has its smaller orbital lobe's deep surface affixed above its large, ovoid palpebral lobe. Most of the gland droops beside the globe except for the edge of its orbital lobe which lies above the edge of the lpsa and beneath which the palpebral lobe's anteromedial portion lies. The macrovariant (Type IV) resembles the typical gland. However, between its big lobes is an unusually large gape for the lpsa.


CONCLUSIONS
Variant lacrimal glands are common (51.1%). Three types have been identified. The subencapsulated (26.7%) and bilayered (22.2%) types are the more common ones. Only one macrovariant (2.2%) specimen was found. Several dimorphisms exist in the typical and subencapsulated types, specimens from male cadavers being larger.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057-1460, USA. melorber@aol.com
Mortimer
M
Lorber
Branislav
B
Vidić
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011336:Probability; D012737:Sex Factors