[The ultrastructure of the terminal segments of the human lacrimal gland (author's transl)].

Eleven human lacrimal glands of patients between the age of 13 months and 42 years were examined. The following results were obtained: 1. The human lacrimal gland shows a tubuloacinous structure. 2. The cells of the gland epithelium are high cylindrical to conical. The height of the cells depends on the functional state. 3. The secretory epithelium shows different cell types: Most cells have pale cytoplasm and different coloured prosecretory granules. Also there are cells with pale cytoplasm and few prosecretory granules, and cells with dark cytoplasm and many osmiophile prosecretory granules and finally a few cells with dark cytoplasm and very few prosecretory granules. 4. The different cell types represent most likely different stages of the cycle of secretion within the lacrimal gland. 5. The myopithelial cells show a dependence of the functional state of the gland epithelium.