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Purpose: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the length and diameter of the intra-sac portion of the lacrimal canaliculus and to propose a modified functional valve model at the common internal ostium. Methods: We examined 14 eyelid and orbital specimens from 10 cadavers (seven right, seven left; aged 45-85 years at death), fixed in 10% buffered formalin. Sliced specimens were dehydrated and embedded in paraffin, cut into 7 μm thickness sections, and stained with Masson's trichrome. We then measured the length and diameter of the intra-sac portion of the lacrimal canaliculus. Results: The average length of the intra-sac portion of the lacrimal canaliculus was 1344.9 μm (range, 920.2-1821.5 μm), and its average diameter was 287.5 μm (range, 199.1-523.3 μm). Conclusion: The intra-sac portion of the lacrimal canaliculus had an average length and diameter of 1344.9 μm and 287.5 μm, respectively. The lacrimal sac mucosa changes its thickness with autonomic stimulation, and the length and diameter of the intra-sac portion of the lacrimal canaliculus is likely changed concurrently. The long length and small diameter of the intra-sac lacrimal canaliculus presumably contribute to it acting as an autonomic functional valve at the common internal ostium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A right orbit was exenterated from a male cadaver that was 85 years of age at death. It was microscopically shown for the first time that the lacrimal sac septum divided the lumen into two spaces. It consisted of fibrous tissue with a cavernous structure and was lined with stratified columnar epithelium similar to the lacrimal sac wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]