THE GLANDULAR SYSTEM 245 



The size of the lacrimal glands is about that of the 

 kernel of a peach-stone. They have many excretory 



FIG. 127. Lacrimal and Meibomian glands, the latter viewed from the 

 posterior surface of the eyelids (the conjunction of the upper lid has been 

 partially dissected off, and is raised so as to show the Meibomian glands 

 beneath) : r, Free border of upper, and 2, free border of lower lid, with 

 openings of the Meibomian glands; 5, Meibomian glands exposed, and 6, 

 as seen through conjunctiva; 7, 8, lacrimal gland; 9, its excretory ducts, 

 with /o, their openings in the conjunctival cul-de-sac ; if, conjunctiva. 



ducts, which open into the eye under the upper lid. 

 Their function is to furnish moisture to the eyes; these 

 are the organs which secrete the tears. 



THE MESENTERIC GLANDS 



These glands are small, knot-like bodies, occurring in the 

 course of the chyliferous vessels in the mesentery. They 

 are very numerous, but have no excretory duct. The 

 lacteals, however, as stated in a previous chapter, pass 

 through them. It is not known certainly to what extent 

 the chyle, conveyed through the glands by the lacteals, 

 is modified; and hence the office of the mesenteric glands 

 is as yet but little understood. 



