[X-ray anatomy of lacrimal canaliculi]

Contrast roentgenography of the lacrimal duct using bismuth suspension in 30% iodolipol solution in 2:1 ratio was carried out in 48 patients aged 24 to 62, 26 of them women and 22 men. The mean length of the vertical part of the lacrimal canaliculi, both inferior and superior, was found to be 2 mm (from 1.7 to 2.2 mm), the length of the horizontal portion of the lower lacrimal canaliculus 10 mm (from 7 to 13 mm), and that of the horizontal fragment of the upper lacrimal canaliculus 9 mm (from 6 to 12 mm). The mean length of the common part of the lacrimal canaliculi (after fusion of the two canaliculi in one) was 3 mm (from 1 to 5 mm). All the examinees had a common portion of the canaliculus. The mean total length of the lower lacrimal canaliculus was 14 mm (from 11 to 17 mm), that of the upper one 13 mm (from 10 to 16 mm).