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Maxillary sinuses
An air-filled cavity in the body of the maxilla, below the orbit and lateral to the nasal cavity. Its floor lies near the roots of the upper premolars and molars. Mucus passes toward an opening high on its medial wall and then into the middle nasal meatus. The displayed space is derived from the atlas maxilla with approximate clearances; its ostium and drainage pathway are not modeled.
Function
Lightens the skull and adds resonance to the voice. Its mucous lining drains into the nose.
Clinical relevance
The roots of the upper molars and premolars often lie just below its floor and can reach into it. An extraction or implant in this region can open the sinus (an oroantral communication), and a dental infection can spread into it. The sinus shown here is modelled from the maxilla (neither source model contains it), so its size and floor are approximate.
Source: StatPearls: Nose Paranasal Sinuses
Related structures
Paranasal sinuses · Maxilla · Maxillary alveolar process · Infraorbital nerve
This text is a draft and has not yet been reviewed by a dental professional. Educational reference only, not for diagnosis or treatment.