lacrimal (lak-rim-ăl) adj. relating to tears. l. apparatus the structures that produce and drain away fluid from the eye (see illustration). l. bone either of a pair of small rectangular bones that contribute to the orbits. l. gland the gland that secretes tears, which drain away through small openings (puncta) at the inner corner of the eye. l. nerve a branch of the ophthalmic nerve that supplies the lacrimal gland and conjunctiva.

lac·ri·mal • adj. & n. variant spelling of lachrymal.