Meibomian gland Meibomian gland The Meibomian glands (often written with a small "m" and also called tarsal glands) are a holocrine type of exocrine glands, at the rim of the eyelids inside the tarsal plate, responsible for the supply of meibum, an oily substance that prevents evaporation of the eye's tear film. Meibum prevents tear spillage onto the cheek, trapping tears between the oiled edge and the eyeball, and makes the closed lids airtight. There are approximately 50 glands on the upper eyelids and 25 glands on the lower eyelids. Dysfunctional meibomian glands often cause dry eyes, one of the more common
Holocarpha virgata lined with oily glands and hairs. The linear leaves are up to long near the base of the plant and those along the stem are much smaller. The inflorescence is made up of several short branches lined densely in small, thick, green bracts. The bracts are just a few millimeters long and are tipped with glands. At the ends of the branches are flower heads, each lined with phyllaries which are covered in knobby resin glands. Each head contains 9-25 disc florets which are yellow with black or purplish anthers. The head has a fringe of 3-7 yellow ray florets