Maxillary Sinuses in a Frontal Section of the Skull, Anterior View

Description

Anteriorly oriented in a frontal (coronal) section through the male skull, the paired maxillary sinuses (antra of Highmore) occupy the body of the maxilla lateral to the nasal cavity, their air spaces extending inferiorly toward the hard palate and alveolar process. Medially, each sinus relates to the lateral wall of the nasal cavity at the level of the inferior and middle nasal conchae, with the nasal septum dividing right from left. Superiorly, the sinus roofs approach the orbital floors, while the frontal bone and nasal bones frame the upper nasal aperture. Posteriorly, the ethmoidal air cells sit as a contrasting cluster within the ethmoid labyrinth, emphasizing how tightly packed the paranasal system is around the nasal cavity. Coronal anatomy clarifies why maxillary sinus drainage can be counterintuitive: the natural ostium opens high on the medial wall into the middle meatus via the ostiomeatal complex, so dependent clearance is limited when mucosa is edematous. This view also helps when teaching odontogenic maxillary sinusitis, because the sinus floor lies close to the apices of the maxillary premolars and molars and can be violated during extraction, implant placement, or with a thin Schneiderian membrane. Clear boundaries. Easy surgical planning. Use this artwork for head and neck anatomy courses, ENT and OMFS teaching files, and textbook figures explaining functional endoscopic sinus surgery landmarks, sinusitis patterns on coronal CT, or dental-sinus relationships relevant to oroantral fistula risk. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.