title: Two Types of the Sinus of Maier: An Anatomic Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To show the morphological characteristics of two different types of the sinus of Maier, one with a lacrimal sac diverticulum supplied by separate canalicular openings, and the other with a terminal dilatation of the common lacrimal canaliculus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve coronal specimens (6 right and 6 left) from 6 Japanese cadavers (age range, 70-90 years at death) and 15 axial specimens of 11 Japanese cadavers (8 right, 7 left; age range, 45-89 years at death), fixed in 10% buffered formalin, were used. All specimens were stained with Masson's trichrome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sinus of Maier, with a lacrimal sac diverticulum supplied by separate canalicular openings, was shown in one coronally sectioned group, with a diameter of 1.29 mm. The mucosa between both openings (0.282 mm length) comprised stratified squamous epithelia, which was characteristic of the lacrimal canaliculi. The diverticular mucosa was lined by a stratified columnar epithelium, which corresponded to the lacrimal sac. The sinus of Maier, with a terminal dilatation of the common lacrimal canaliculus and with a diameter of 0.51 mm, was demonstrated in one axially sectioned group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The morphological characteristics of two types of the sinus of Maier were described in this study. One type was the lacrimal sac diverticulum supplied by separate canalicular openings, and the other was the terminal dilatation of the common lacrimal canaliculus.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Aichi Medical University , Nagakute , Japan .
authors.forename: Hirohiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kakizaki
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Aichi Medical University , Nagakute , Japan .
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Aichi Medical University , Nagakute , Japan .|b Department of Ophthalmology , University of Seonam College of Medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center , Jeonju , Korea .
authors.forename: Hyera
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: c Department of Anatomy , Aichi Medical University , Nagakute , Japan , and.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.affiliation: c Department of Anatomy , Aichi Medical University , Nagakute , Japan , and.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asamoto
authors.affiliation: d Department of Pathology , Aichi Medical University , Nagakute , Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005143:Eyelids / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009915:Orbit / Q000033:anatomy & histology
keywords: Common lacrimal canaliculus; Sinus of Maier; lacrimal sac diverticulum; morphological; terminal dilatation