A Study on Morphometry and Related Surgical Importance of Naso Lacrimal Duct

Introduction: The Nasolacrimal duct is the terminal part of the nasolacrimal apparatus or tear apparatus. The anatomy of lateral nasal wall is Important for planning the surgeries on lacrimal duct through intranasal approach. Objective: The current study was designed to review the anatomy of nasolacrimal duct in relation to the lateral nasal wall. Material and method: Thirty sagittal sections (14 right and 16 left side) of head and neck of formalin fixed adult cadavers of known sex, gender, ethnicity present in department of anatomy GMCH, Chandigarh were studied. The following parameters were made using a digital calliper and rounded off to the nearest millimetres. 1.Length of nasolacrimal duct (NLD Length) 2. Nearest distance from the nasolacrimal duct to maxillary sinus ostium (NLD - MSO) 3. Nearest distance from the NLD to the anterior nasal spine. (NLD- ANS)4. Nearest distance of the intranasal orifice of the NLD to the nasal floor (NLD- NF) 5. Nearest distance of the intranasal orifice of the NLD to the nasal roof. (NSD- NR) 6. Nearest distance of the intranasal orifice of the NLD to the anterior attachment of the Inferior concha. (NSD- AIT). Observations: In our study the average length of the NLD was 19.8±1.57mm. The intranasal orifice of the NLD was observed to be located on an average of 24.5±2.6mm from the anterior nasal spine, ranging from 5.5-2. 9mm.The average distance from the nasal roof was found to be 32.2±1.67mm and 16.08±1.71mm from nasal floor. In addition, the average distance from the anterior attachment of inferior nasal concha was found to be 14.82±2.37mm. In our study the NLD was an average of 4.08±0.67mm anterior to MSO at the level of the anterior attachment of the MT. On Comparing right and left side The NLD Was found to be slightly longer 22.7 in comparison of 22.2 mm on left side. The distance of NLD From MSO was also found to be larger on left side. The distances of NLD-ANS, NLD NR, NLD -AIT and NLD- NF were also longer on left side. Conclusion: We found that most of the parameters were closer to a study done by Ertugel while the NLD-NF distance was more in our specimen. Running title: nasolacrimal duct: morphometry, surgical importance KEY WORDS: Nasolacrimal duct, Maxillary sinus ostium, nasal floor, nasal roof, Anterior attachment of inferior concha.