Anterior Lacrimal Crest Within The Maxilla, Anatomy

Description

Anterior lacrimal crest (crista lacrimalis anterior) rises as a sharp vertical ridge on the frontal process of the maxilla at the medial orbital rim. Medial to the crest lies the nasolacrimal groove, which, together with the lacrimal bone posteriorly, forms the bony nasolacrimal canal that descends toward the inferior nasal meatus. Superiorly, the crest blends with the anterior lacrimal tubercle near the frontomaxillary suture, while inferiorly it continues toward the maxillary contribution to the lateral wall of the nasal cavity and the attachment line of the inferior nasal concha. A firm landmark. Surgeons and trainees care about this ridge because it defines the anterior boundary of the lacrimal sac fossa and provides tactile orientation during procedures that open the lacrimal drainage pathway into the nasal cavity, including external and endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy. Chronic epiphora from nasolacrimal duct obstruction, trauma to the medial orbital rim, and iatrogenic injury during medial canthal or orbital approaches all demand a reliable appreciation of how the anterior lacrimal crest relates to the posterior lacrimal crest of the lacrimal bone and the intervening lacrimal sac bed. The lighting and crisp bony edges in this illustration make the crest-to-canal relationship easy to parse in a single frame, so you can teach where the lacrimal sac sits relative to the maxilla without relying on soft tissue overlays. Use this illustration in head and neck anatomy courses, ophthalmology teaching sets on the lacrimal apparatus, and maxillofacial surgery references discussing medial orbital fractures and lacrimal drainage complications. It also supports figure plates for ENT texts explaining the bony confines of the nasolacrimal canal and its opening beneath the inferior turbinate. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.