Topic 2: Tear Drainage System
Section outline
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Introduction:
A human being, it has been said, is merely "an ingenious assembly of portable plumbing." And while some may argue that human beings are more than just a bunch of pipes, plumbing does play a critical role, especially in the eye.The eye is a delicate structure, and needs to be kept moist, a job accomplished by the varied fluids in tears. But the tears need to go somewhere - and for that we have the tear drainage system.
We'll look closely at this system in this module, beginning with its anatomy and physiology, and see the ingenious solution the body uses to remove the fluids from the surface of the eye. From there we'll take a look at what happens when this system is thrown out of balance, and how it can result in excessive tearing - and then how we can treat these conditions. Along the way, we'll see how to properly evaluate the tear drainage system, and how to look for any of the myriad issues that patients may face when its normal function is disrupted.
We may be more than just a series of plumbing tubes - but those tubes are pretty important. Let's take a look.
Issue Date: 08/01/2020
