Sinusitis is a very common
clinical complaint, which is attributed with inflammation of the membrane
lining of any sinus, especially one of the Para nasal sinuses. The muco
ciliary clearance function is affected as a result of anatomical or
pathological abnormalities.
Para nasal Sinuses are air filled spaces present within the bones around
the nasal cavities. They are Frontal, Maxillary, Sphenoid and Ethmoid.
Frontal Sinus
The paired frontal sinuses lie in the frontal bone deep in the supraciliary
arch. It extends upwards above the medial end of eyebrow and backwards
into medial part of the roof of the orbit. It opens in to the middle
meatus of nose at the anterior end of the hiatus semilunaris either
through the infundibulum or through the frontonasal duct. The right
and left sinuses are usually unequal in size and rarely one or both
may be absent.
Maxillary Sinus
Maxillary sinus lies in the body of the maxilla and it is the largest
of all the paranasal sinuses. It is pyramidal in shape, with its base
directed medially towards the lateral wall of the nose and the apex
directed laterally in the zygomatic process of the maxilla. It is the
first Para nasal Sinus to develop.
Sphenoid Sinus
The right and left sphenoid sinuses lie within the body of the sphenoid
bone. They are unequal in size and separated by a septum. Each sinus
opens into the sphenoethmoidal recess of the corresponding half of the
nasal cavity.
Ethmoid Sinus
These are numerous small inter communicating spaces which lie within
the labyrinth of the ethmoid bone. The orbital plate of the frontal
bone completes them from above, from behind by the sphenoidal conchae
and the palatine bone and anteriorly by the lacrimal bone.
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