Maxillary sinus

Maxillary sinus
Outline of bones of face, showing position of air sinuses.
Latin	sinus maxillaris
Gray's	subject #223 999
Artery	infraorbital artery, posterior superior alveolar artery
Nerve	posterior superior alveolar nerve, medial superior alveolar nerve, anterior superior alveolar nerve, and infraorbital nerve
MeSH	Maxillary+Sinus

The maxillary sinus (or Antrum of Highmore) is the largest of the paranasal sinuses, and is pyramidal in shape.

General characteristics

Found in the body of the maxilla, this sinus has three recesses: an alveolar recess pointed inferiorly, bounded by the alveolar process of the maxilla; a zygomatic recess pointed laterally, bounded by the zygomatic bone; and an infraorbital recess pointed superiorly, bounded by the inferior orbital surface of the maxilla. The medial wall is composed primarily of cartilage. The ostia for drainage is located high on the medial wall and opens into the semilunar hiatus of the lateral nasal cavity; because of the position of the ostia, gravity cannot drain the maxillary sinus contents when the head is erect. The sinus is lined with mucoperiosteum, with cilia that beat toward the ostia. This membrane is also referred to as the "Schneiderian Membrane", which is histologically a bilaminar membrane with ciliated columnar epithelial cells on the internal (or cavernous) side and periosteum on the osseous side. The size of the sinuses varies in different skulls, and even on the two sides of the same skull.

The infraorbital canal usually projects into the cavity as a well-marked ridge extending from the roof to the anterior wall; additional ridges are sometimes seen in the posterior wall of the cavity and are caused by the alveolar canals.

The mucous membranes receive their postganglionic parasympathetic nerve innervation for mucous secretion originating from the greater petrosal nerve (a branch of the facial nerve). The superior alveolar (anterior, middle, and posterior) nerves, branches of the maxillary nerve provide sensory innervation.

Nasal wall/base

Its nasal wall, or base, presents, in the disarticulated bone, a large, irregular aperture, communicating with the nasal cavity.

In the articulated skull this aperture is much reduced in size by the following bones:

• the uncinate process of the ethmoid above,
• the ethmoidal process of the inferior nasal concha below,
• the vertical part of the palatine behind,
• and a small part of the lacrimal above and in front.

The sinus communicates through an opening into the semilunar hiatus on the lateral nasal wall.

Posterior wall

On the posterior wall are the alveolar canals, transmitting the posterior superior alveolar vessels and nerves to the molar teeth.

Floor

The floor is formed by the alveolar process of the maxilla, and, if the sinus is of an average size, is on a level with the floor of the nose; if the sinus is large it reaches below this level.

Projecting into the floor of the antrum are several conical processes, corresponding to the roots of the first and second molar teeth; in some cases the floor is perforated by the apices of the teeth.

Pathology

Maxillary sinusitis is inflammation of the maxillary sinuses.

Maxillary sinusitis is common due to the close anatomical relation of the frontal sinus, anterior ethmoidal air sinus and the maxillary teeth, allowing for easy spread of infection. Furthermore, the drainage orifice lies near the roof of the sinus, and so the maxillary sinus does not drain at all well, and infection develops more easily.

Treatment

Additional images

Paranasal sinuses	Left maxilla. Nasal surface.	Medial wall of left orbit.	Left orbicularis oculi, seen from behind.
Coronal section of nasal cavities.	The permanent teeth, viewed from the right.	MRI image showing maxillary sinuses.	Paranasal sinuses

External links

• SUNY Radiology Headneck:17Maxill
• Cross section at UV skull/x-front
• lesson9 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (latnasalwall3, nasalcavitfrontsec)