| Meibomian gland | |
|---|---|
 Front of left eye with eyelids separated to show medial canthus and openings of meibomian (tarsal) glands | |
 Openings of the meibomian glands visible below the eyelashes of the upper eyelid | |
| Details | |
| System | Integumentary |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | glandula tarsalis |
| MeSH | D008537 |
| TA98 | A15.2.07.042 |
| TA2 | 6833 |
| FMA | 71872 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Meibomian glands (also called tarsal glands, palpebral glands, and tarsoconjunctival glands) are sebaceous glands along the rims of the eyelid inside the tarsal plate. They produce meibum, an oily substance that prevents evaporation of the eye's tear film. Meibum prevents tears from spilling onto the cheek, traps them between the oiled edge and the eyeball, and makes the closed lids airtight.[1] There are about 25 such glands on the upper eyelid, and 20 on the lower eyelid.
Dysfunctional meibomian glands is believed to be the most often cause of dry eyes. They are also the cause of posterior blepharitis.[2]
- ^ "eye, human." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2010.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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