Maxillary Sinus Within a Frontal Section of the Skull, Anterior View

Description

Oriented in anatomical position, this frontal section of the male skull exposes the maxillary sinus (antrum of Highmore) as a large air-filled cavity within the body of the maxilla, lateral to the nasal cavity and inferior to the orbit. Medially, the sinus wall relates to the lateral nasal wall with the nasal septum visible as a midline partition, and superiorly the roof of the sinus approaches the orbital floor. The zygomatic region and adjacent facial skeleton frame the sinus laterally, while the alveolar process lies inferiorly, placing the sinus in close proximity to the roots of the maxillary premolars and molars. Ethmoidal air cells are also seen more superior and medial, emphasizing the continuity of the paranasal sinus system. For teaching and clinical reference, this anteriorly oriented coronal (frontal) cut offers a clear sense of sinus volume and its key boundaries, details that matter when planning functional endoscopic sinus surgery, maxillary antrostomy, or assessing routes of spread for odontogenic infection. Drainage anatomy becomes intuitive here: the natural maxillary ostium sits high on the medial wall near the hiatus semilunaris region, a configuration that contributes to secretion retention in maxillary sinusitis. Tooth and sinus share real estate. Periapical disease or extraction of posterior maxillary teeth can breach the Schneiderian membrane, creating an oroantral communication and secondary maxillary sinus infection. Use this artwork in head and neck anatomy coursework, dental education modules on odontogenic maxillary sinusitis, and radiology teaching files when correlating coronal CT with paranasal sinus compartments and surgical landmarks. It also supports patient-facing educational materials explaining why cheek pain, nasal obstruction, and dental pathology can intersect in the maxillary sinus. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.