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Meibom-Drüsen

Teil I: Anatomie, Embryologie und Histologie der Meibom-Drüsen

Meibomian glands

Part I: Anatomy, embryology and histology of the Meibomian glands

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Zusammenfassung

Die Meibom-Drüsen sind große Talgdrüsen, die als separate, einzelne Drüsenstränge in paralleler Anordnung in den Tarsalplatten der Augenlider liegen. Ihr öliges Sekret (Meibum) entsteht durch einen holokrinen Sekretionsmechanismus bei dem die sekretorischen Zellen (Meibozyten) nach der Bildung und Einlagerung von Lipid komplett in das Meibum umgewandelt werden. Nach der Produktion in den Drüsenazini wird es über ein mehrteiliges Gangsystem mit Verbindungsgang und zentralem Gang zur Öffnung nahe der hinteren Lidkante transportiert. Die embryologische Entwicklung der Meibom-Drüsen erfolgt während der Differenzierung der Augenlider in der Phase der Lidversiegelung. Sie sind nicht direkt mit einem Haarfollikel verbunden, teilen aber in Embryologie, Struktur und Verhornungspotenz wesentliche Merkmale mit den Haarfollikeln der Augenwimpern. Meibom-Drüsen werden ähnlich wie andere Talgdrüsen durch Geschlechtshormone reguliert, wobei Androgene die Drüsenfunktion fördern, während Östrogene antagonistisch wirken. Im Gegensatz zu üblichen Talgdrüsen haben sie aber auch eine ausgeprägte nervale Innervation, neben sympathischen und sensorischen v. a. durch parasympathische Fasern, und teilen das Innervationsmuster der Tränendrüse. Anatomie, Embryologie und Histologie der Meibom-Drüsen werden hier – schwerpunktmäßig für den Menschen – in einer ausführlichen Übersichtsarbeit dargestellt.

Abstract

The Meibomian glands are large sebaceous glands that are located as separate gland strands in parallel arrangement within the tarsal plates of the eyelids. Their oily product (meibum) is secreted by a holocrine mechanism during which the secretory cells (meibocytes) are completely transformed into the meibum after synthesis and accumulation of lipids. After production in the gland acini, meibum is transported through the ductal system via the connecting duct (ductule) and the central duct towards the orifice at the free lid margin close to the inner lid border. The embryological development of the Meibomian glands takes place during the differentiation of the eyelids in the sealing phase of the eyelids. They are not directly associated with hair follicles but share important similarities in embryology, structure and keratinization potency with the cilia. Similar to the sebaceous glands Meibomian glands are regulated via sex hormones and androgens have a supporting function whereas estrogens act antagonistically. However, in contrast to other sebaceous glands they also have a distinct innervation, apart from sympathetic and sensory primarily by parasympathetic fibers that share the innervation pattern of the lacrimal glands. The anatomy, embryology and histology of the Meibomian glands are explained here, mainly with respect to humans, in an extensive review.

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  1. Abt. für Zellbiologie in der Anatomie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Deutschland

    N. Knop

  2. Forschungslabor der Augenklinik, Campus Virchow Klinikum (CVK), Charite – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland

    E. Knop

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Knop, N., Knop, E. Meibom-Drüsen. Ophthalmologe 106, 872–883 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00347-009-2006-1

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