The maxillary sinuses are cavities located in the upper jaw on both sides of the nose and are one of the numerous sinuses. The maxillary sinuses owe their name to the English physician Nathaniel Gaymor - the first physician to describe sinusitis.
The structure of the maxillary sinuses.
In total, the sinuses, there are four pairs: maxillary, major (wedge-shaped), frontal and ethmoid. The maxillary sinuses, or as they are also called maxillary, have the largest sizes - each with a volume of about 30 cm3. The volume of the maxillary sinuses is greatly influenced by the thickness of its walls. They resemble a tetrahedral pyramid in shape, having anterior (facial), superior (orbital), posterior and inner walls. Quite often there is an asymmetry of the sinuses. With age, the size and shape of the maxillary sinuses increase significantly.
In a normal healthy state, the maxillary sinuses are connected to the nasal cavity and are therefore filled with air. The lower wall of the sinuses is very thin, sensitive and quite easily inflamed in the presence of inflammatory processes occurring in the oral cavity and teeth. In addition, the bottom of the sinuses is very close to the roots of the upper posterior teeth, sometimes the roots of the seventh and eighth upper teeth freely stand in the right sinus.
The main function of the maxillary sinuses is the formation of nasal breathing, the creation of resonance in the formation of the voice, as well as the formation of smell. The inner surface of the maxillary sinuses is covered with a thin mucous membrane, in which there are extremely few nerve endings, which explains its low sensitivity. It is because of the insensitivity of the mucosa that many diseases can occur for a long time without causing any sensations and go unnoticed.
Inflammation of the maxillary sinus is called sinusitis, during which the secret of the mucous membrane due to the lack of outflow begins to accumulate in the sinus. This is accompanied by an unpleasant sensation of fullness and pain, and in case of suppuration of the contents of the sinus, high temperature and intoxication join these symptoms.
The main manifestations of maxillary sinus inflammation are: pain in the forehead, one or two sinuses, prolonged runny nose, chills, impaired smell, difficulty in nasal breathing and fever. However, a definitive diagnosis of sinuses is necessary for a definitive diagnosis. In the acute phase of sinusitis, the inflammatory process mainly captures the layer of epithelial cells, as well as the underlying tissue and blood vessels. Chronic sinusitis is characterized by the spread of the inflammatory process to the bony walls of the sinuses and the submucosa. Sinusitis can get sick at any age, and the incidence increases sharply in wet and cold seasons.
The main causes of sinusitis.
Inflammation of the maxillary sinuses can be triggered by many factors. An important role in its development is played by pathological processes of the oral cavity, nose and pharynx, and respiratory tract infection. Quite often, sinusitis occurs during the flu, acute cold, scarlet fever and measles, as well as due to various diseases of the four posterior upper teeth and their roots.
The main cause of sinusitis is infection. Viruses or bacteria enter the maxillary sinuses through the nasal cavity, causing an inflammatory process. In addition, conditions that violate normal nasal breathing are predisposed to the occurrence of sinusitis: vasomotor rhinitis, curvature of the nasal septum, allergic diseases of the nose, hypertrophic rhinitis and adenoids. Improper or untimely treatment of acute respiratory infections, rhinitis and the common cold also contribute to the development of sinusitis.