The word “sinus” is most commonly understood to be the paranasal sinuses that are located near the nose and connect to the nasal cavity. There are four paranasal sinuses, each corresponding with the respective bone from which it takes its name:
maxillary, ethmoid
What are the four sinuses called?
Four sets of paired sinuses are recognized:
maxillary, frontal, sphenoid, and ethmoid
(see the image below).
Where are the 4 paranasal sinuses located?
Structure of the Paranasal Sinuses
Paranasal sinuses are a group of four, paired, air-filled spaces that
surround the nasal cavity (maxillary sinuses), above the eyes (frontal sinuses), between the eyes (ethmoid sinuses), and behind the eyes (sphenoid sinuses)
.
What are sinuses for and their function?
Purposes of the Sinuses
The sinuses lighten the skull or improve our voices, but their main function is
to produce a mucus that moisturizes the inside of the nose
. This mucus layer protects the nose from pollutants, micro-organisms, dust and dirt.
What are 4 functions of the sinuses?
The possible roles of the sinuses may include reducing the weight of the skull;
dampening pressure
; humidifying and warming inspired air; absorbing heat and insulating the brain; aiding in sound resonance; providing mechanical rigidity; and increasing the olfactory surface area.
How can I permanently cure sinusitis?
- Painkillers.
- Antibiotics for bacterial infections.
- Mediation to reduce the inflammation.
- Using a humidifier or nasal spray.
- Drinking plenty of fluids.
Are left and right sinuses connected?
Sinuses actually begin to develop during the early years of life from an initial small pocket or pouch within the bones of the face. This pocket, which is connected to
either the right or left nasal passage
by the above channels, slowly enlarges and expands within the bone filling with air during this process.
What separates the sinuses from the brain?
Ethmoid sinuses: The ethmoid sinuses are located in
the ethmoid bone
, which separates the nasal cavity from the brain.
Are your sinuses connected to your ears?
Your sinuses and ears are
connected inside your head
. So sinus congestion and stuffiness can affect the pressure in your ears. Treating the congestion may help.
How can I unblock my sinuses?
- Use a humidifier or vaporizer.
- Take long showers or breathe in steam from a pot of warm (but not too hot) water.
- Drink lots of fluids. …
- Use a nasal saline spray. …
- Try a Neti pot, nasal irrigator, or bulb syringe. …
- Place a warm, wet towel on your face. …
- Prop yourself up. …
- Avoid chlorinated pools.
Is paranasal sinus disease serious?
Paranasal sinuses
Paranasal sinus disease is
common and on occasion can become life-threatening if not treated in a timely fashion
. At birth the maxillary sinuses and ethmoid air cells are present but hypoplastic.
What bones contain the paranasal sinuses?
One of many small hollow spaces in the bones around the nose. Paranasal sinuses are named after the bones that contain them:
frontal (the lower forehead), maxillary (cheekbones), ethmoid (beside the upper nose), and sphenoid (behind the nose)
.
Where do the sinuses drain into?
The anterior ethmoids drain into the ethmoid infundibulum, in the middle meatus. The posterior ethmoid sinuses drain into
the sphenoethmoidal recess located in the superior meatus
.
What problems can sinus cause?
Nasal inflammation
.
Thick, discolored discharge from the nose
(runny nose) Drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drainage) Blocked or stuffy (congested) nose causing difficulty breathing through your nose.
What are symptoms of sinuses?
- Post nasal drip (mucus drips down the throat).
- Nasal discharge (thick yellow or green discharge from nose) or stuffy nose.
- Facial pressure (particularly around the nose, eyes, and forehead), headache and or pain in your teeth or ears.
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Cough.
Why do sinuses get infected easily?
Causes. Sinus infections happen when fluid builds up in the air-filled pockets in the face (sinuses), which
allows germs to grow
. Viruses cause most sinus infections, but bacteria can cause some sinus infections.
