Ciaccio's gland

gland of Wolfring

Ciaccio's glands are small tubular accessory lacrimal glands (glandulae lacrimales accessoriae) found in the lacrimal caruncle of the eyelid. They are located in the upper border of the tarsus, approximately in the middle between the extremities of the tarsal glands. Sometimes they are situated slightly above the tarsus. There are usually 2 to 5 of these glands in the upper eyelid, and their function is to produce tears which are secreted onto the surface of the conjunctiva. They are named after Italian anatomist Giuseppe Vincenzo Ciaccio (1824b1901), who described these glands in 1874. They are sometimes called Wolfring's glands after Polish ophthalmologist Emilj von Wolfring (1832-1906), who described them during the same time period as did Ciaccio. Another type of accessory lacrimal gland are Krause's glands, which are smaller, more numerous than Ciaccio's glands and are found along the superior and inferior fornices of the conjunctival sac.

Type Bone
Structure parente accessory lacrimal gland
Nom latin gland of Wolfring

Questions fréquentes

What is Ciaccio's gland?
Ciaccio's glands (glandulae lacrimales accessoriae) are small accessory lacrimal glands located in the upper eyelid, near the upper border of the tarsal plate (tarsus). They supplement the main lacrimal gland's production of tears.
Where exactly are Ciaccio's glands located?
Ciaccio's glands are found in the subconjunctival tissue of the upper eyelid at the upper border of the tarsus. There are typically 2 to 5 such glands in the upper eyelid, though their number is variable. The lower eyelid has fewer or none.
What is the function of Ciaccio's glands?
Ciaccio's glands produce a watery (aqueous) lacrimal secretion that supplements the tear film, helping to maintain the moisture and lubrication of the ocular surface. They contribute to the basal tear secretion that keeps the cornea hydrated.
How do Ciaccio's glands differ from Wolfring's glands?
Both Ciaccio's and Wolfring's glands are accessory lacrimal glands. Wolfring's glands (also called Ciaccio's glands of the upper border of the tarsal plate) are located at the upper border of the upper tarsus, while Ciaccio's glands are sometimes described as being within the tarsus or just above it. The nomenclature can overlap, but both are accessory lacrimal secretors.
What is the clinical significance of Ciaccio's glands?
Ciaccio's glands and other accessory lacrimal glands play an important role in maintaining basal tear secretion. In conditions such as Sjögren's syndrome, mucous membrane pemphigoid, and severe dry eye disease, these glands may be destroyed along with goblet cells, worsening aqueous tear deficiency.

Structures associées

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Data sources: Terminologia Anatomica, Foundational Model of Anatomy, Wikidata.