Lymph Vessels of the Eye

Of the lymph vessels of the eye, it was possible to inject those of the eyelids, lacrimal caruncle, lacrimal gland, and zygomatic gland. The lymph vessels of the zygomatic gland will not be described here, as this gland can be considered a dorsal cheek gland that has moved into the orbit, and its drainage will be described instead in the section on the lymph vessels of the digestive organs (see lymph vessels of the cheek). The lymph vessels from the parts of the eye listed above drain to the parotid and mandibular lymph nodes.

A. Lymph Vessels of the Eyelids

The lymph vessels of the eyelids (Figure 13: u, v), as well as all of its layers (including the conjunctiva and the lacrimal caruncle), drain either to the parotid lymph node (Figure 13: 1) or to the mandibular lymph nodes (Figure 13: 2, 2’). The lymph vessels were injected from the upper, lower, and third eyelids, as well as from the lacrimal caruncle, and were observed to run from each of the aforementioned structures to both groups of lymph nodes, joining with the corresponding lymph vessels of the skin.

B. Lymph Vessels of the Lacrimal Gland

The lymph vessels of the lacrimal gland also drain to the parotid and mandibular lymph nodes. The lymph vessels that drain to the parotid lymph node join with the corresponding lymph vessels of the upper eyelid, while the lymph vessels that drain to the mandibular lymph nodes emerge near the lacrimal caruncle and join with the lymph vessels of the caruncle and the lower eyelid, which then descend at the anterior border of the masseter to drain to the mandibular lymph nodes.

C. Lymph Vessels of the Eye Muscles

Despite multiple attempts, I did not succeed in injecting the lymph vessels of the eye muscles and the globe.