Meibomian gland
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| Meibomian gland | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Front of left eye with eyelids separated to show medial canthus and openings of tarsal (meibomian) glands. | |
| Latin | glandulae tarsales |
| Gray's | subject #227 1026 |
| MeSH | Meibomian+glands |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | g_06/12392757 |
The meibomian glands (or tarsal glands) are a special kind of sebaceous glands at the rim of the eyelids, responsible for the supply of sebum, an oily substance that prevents evaporation of the eye's tear film, prevents tear spillage onto the cheek, and makes the closed lids airtight. There are approximately 50 glands on the upper eyelids and 25 glands on the lower eyelids. The glands are named after Heinrich Meibom (1638-1700), a German physician.
Proteins
In humans, more than 90 different proteins have been identified in meibomian gland secretions.[1]
Dysfunction
Dysfunctional meibomian glands often cause dry eyes, one of the more common eye conditions. They may also cause blepharitis, as the dry eyeball rubs off small pieces of skin from the eyelid, which can get infected. Inflammation of the meibomian glands (also known as meibomitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, or posterior blepharitis [1]) causes the glands to be obstructed by thick secretions, the resulting swelling is termed a chalazion. Besides leading to dry eyes, the obstructions can be degraded by bacterial lipases, resulting in the formation of free fatty acids, which irritate the eyes and sometimes cause punctate keratitis.
References
External links
Head and neck anatomy - accessory organs of the eye | |
|---|---|
| General | Eyebrow - Eyelid - Canthus - Eyelash - Ciliary glands - Orbital septum - Plica semilunaris - Meibomian gland - Palpebral fissure |
| Lacrimal apparatus | Lacrimal lake - Lacrimal gland - Lacrimal canaliculi - Lacrimal punctum - Lacrimal papilla - Nasolacrimal duct - Lacrimal sac |
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
