GENERAL BIOLOGICAL PATTERNS OF THE STRUCTURE OF HUMAN MAJOR AND MINOR LACRIMAL GLANDS AND UNDER-RESEARCHED ASPECTS OF THEIR MORPHOLOGY

The article discusses the fundamental and modern data on the structure and functions of human large and small lacrimal glands. The palpebral lobe of the human lacrimal gland consists of numerous fairly large lobules, which are almost of identical structure. Each lobule has several axial excretory intralobular ducts. Their branches along the whole length are surrounded by secretory epithelial components in the form of terminal sections and the corresponding finniest terminal lacrimal ducts that are grouped into the grape-bunch structural elements. Blood supply to the capillary network of the lacrimal gland and its alveoli is carried out by several arterioles that run through very large interstitial spaces rich in fatty tissue. Each arteriole supplies several adjacent lobules. The network of capillaries can be described as integral and is not divided into segments that would correspond to sublobular units. Blood capillaries are located in the spaces between several adjacent terminal portions. Thus, the fact of close syntopic similarity of the intralobular excretory ducts and postcapillary venules has been confirmed. The article poses the appropriateness of more detailed morphological studying of anatomical and topographic characteristics of the lacrimal glands. If has been found out the lack of information on the cellular composition of the wall of the excretory ducts of the lacrimal gland, both in humans and in laboratory rats, in order to compare their morphology and the quality of the secretion they produce. It would be interesting to compare the morphology of the human lacrimal glands and the garder gland in rats to identify general biological characteristics of the structure and functioning.