Lacrimation is the body's process of producing tears, which are a liquid to clean and lubricate the eyes. The word lacrimation may also be used in a medical or literary sense to refer to crying.

Physiology

Lacrimal glands are located above and beside each eye, behind the eyelid. When the eyelids blink, a small amount of lacrimal fluid is pulled from the glands. Strong emotion causes the lacrimal glands to constrict and emit tears.

Tears flow from the eyes through lacrimal ducts located at the inner corner of each eye. Lacrimal fluid often flows into the nasal duct, causing the nose to run.

Types of tears

There are three basic types of tears. In healthy mammalian eyes, the cornea is continually kept wet and nourished by basal tears. They lubricate the eye and help to keep it clear of dust. Tear fluid contains water, mucin, lipids, lysozyme, immunoglobulins, glucose, urea, sodium, and potassium. Some of the substances in lacrimal fluid fight against bacterial infection as a part of the immune system.

The second type of tears results from irritation to the eye by foreign particles, or substances such as onion vapors, tear gas, or pepper spray. These reflex tears attempt to wash out irritants that may have gotten into the eye.

The third category, also referred to as crying or weeping, is increased lacrimation due to strong emotional stress or pain. In humans, emotional tears can be accompanied by reddening of the face and sobbing — cough-like, convulsive breathing, sometimes involving spasms of the whole upper body.

Tears brought about by emotions have a different chemical make up than those for lubrication. It has been suggested from their stress hormone content that tears may be a method of expelling excess hormones from the body.

Meniscometry is used to evaluate tear volume over the ocular surface.

Societal aspects

Most mammals will produce tears in response to extreme pain or other stimulus, but crying as an emotional reaction is considered by many to be a uniquely human phenomenon, possibly due to humans' advanced self-awareness. Some studies suggest that elephants and gorillas may cry as well.

In nearly all cultures, crying is seen as a specific act associated with tears trickling down the cheeks and accompanied by characteristic sobbing sounds. Emotional triggers are most often anger and grief, but crying can also be triggered by sadness, joy, fear, humor, et cetera.

In many cultures, crying is associated with babies and children. Some cultures consider crying to be undignified and infantile, casting aspersion on those who cry publicly. In most Western cultures, it is more societally acceptable for women to cry than men. In other cultures, the reverse is true.

An insincere display of grief or dishonest remorse is called crocodile tears, from the mistaken notion that crocodiles would weep over their prey or that crocodiles don't cry, therefore that the tears are "false" (though in an obviously different way).

Many religions describe gods or prophets as crying. The shortest verse in the Christian Bible (in English) is simply: "Jesus wept". Jade is sometimes known as tears of the Buddha. The Qur'an describes Muhammad crying, and proclaiming: "This is an expression of the tenderness and compassion, which the Lord hath put into the hearts of His servants."

See also

• Trail of Tears