why do tears come out when we cry

Tears come out when we cry because crying is a physiological response primarily triggered by emotional, physical, or environmental stimuli. The lacrimal glands above our eyes produce tears continuously to keep the eyes moist, but during emotional states such as sadness, happiness, stress, or pain, the nervous system signals these glands to produce many more tears. This flood of tears exceeds the eye's capacity to hold them, causing tears to spill out. There are three kinds of tears: basal tears that keep the eyes healthy and moist, reflex tears that protect the eyes from irritants, and emotional tears triggered by strong feelings. Emotional tears contain different chemicals including stress hormones and natural painkillers, which some scientists believe may help alleviate emotional pain and bring relief. The limbic system in the brain, which controls emotions, communicates with the lacrimal glands to produce tears in response to emotional states. Crying and tears also play a social role, signaling vulnerability and potentially evoking empathy or compassion in others. In summary, tears come out when we cry because the emotional centers in the brain activate the tear-producing system to flood the eyes with tears as a response to strong emotions, helping regulate emotions and communicate feelings to others.