Lacrimal canals are curved, tube shaped structures connected to the lacrimal puncta, that tears coming from the lacrimal lake drain into. The lacrimal puncta are tiny openings towards the inner part of each eyelid, that tears drain through. Picture the lacrimal puncta as being like a drain in a kitchen sink. The lacrimal lake is a small open area of the eye where tears collect.

Below is a picture of the lacrimal canals:

As you can see from the picture, the superior (top) lacrimal canal is on the top and the inferior (lower) lacrimal canal is on the bottom. As you can also see, both lacrimal canals are located in the border of the each eyelid, near the area where the top and bottom eyelids come together. Tears travel across the middle from the lacrimal canals to the lacrimal sacs. The lacrimal sacs are hollow spaces that the lacrimal canals drain tears into. The lacrimal canals are also known as the lacrimal ducts and lacrimal canaliculi.

For a description of the other items in the picture above, see the entry for lacrimal apparatus. The lacrimal apparatus is the system in the body that produces and drains tears. The term, lacrimal canals, comes from the Latin word "lacrima" meaning "tear," and the Latin word "canalis" meaning "channel." Put the two words together and you get "tear channel."

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