lacrimal apparatus
- noun
- /ˈleɪkrɪməl əˈpærətəs/
- Specialized
:
aparato lagrimal
- The doctor explained how the lacrimal apparatus produces tears to keep the eyes moist.
Examples
-
In recent times, magnetic resonance imaging with topical contrast has been shown to identify a blocked lacrimal apparatus.
Academic text (2009) -
There appear to be only two previously reported cases of exogenous foreign bodies in the lacrimal apparatus.
Academic text (2009) -
We describe a case of iatrogenic dacryocystitis that occurred secondary to the presence of an impacted piece of a metallic dilator in the lacrimal apparatus.
Academic text (2009) -
If the lacrimal apparatus is blocked, it can cause excessive tearing or infection.
-
After the injury, the surgeon assessed the lacrimal apparatus to ensure it was functioning properly.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently compositional: 'lacrimal' means relating to tears and 'apparatus' means a system of parts, so together they denote the system that produces and drains tears. This adjective+noun combination follows regular word-formation patterns (and has clear equivalents in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
Lacrimal apparatus comes from an old word meaning 'tear' and the word 'apparatus' meaning a set of parts that work together. It names the parts of the eye, like the lacrimal gland and small ducts, that make, carry and drain tears, so the phrase means the system that produces and moves tears.
