Hostname: page-component-669899f699-swprf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-04-25T09:06:32.309Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Why do we have paranasal sinuses?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 October 2008

J Keir
J Keir*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr James Keir, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust, Chester CH2 1UL, UK. E-mail: jameskeir@hotmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction:

The paranasal sinuses, comprising the frontal, maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses, have caused consternation and debate over their true function over the course of nearly two millennia. This review aims to define the current evidence for the role of the paranasal sinuses, and to attempt to propose an answer to the question ‘why do we have paranasal sinuses?’

Materials and methods:

A literature review was conducted, searching Medline (1966–2007), Embase (1988–2007), the Cochrane Library and Ovid (1966–2007). Combinations of the following search terms were used: ‘paranasal sinuses’, ‘physiology’, ‘anatomy’, ‘function’, ‘evolution’ and ‘rhinology’. Any relevant references were cascaded to increase detection of pertinent information. The current, tenable theories identified in the literature review are discussed and the evidence for them critically analysed.

Results:

The current, tenable theories are described.

Discussion:

The paranasal sinuses may act simply to improve nasal function; certainly, it has been demonstrated that they may act as an adjunct in the production of nitric oxide and in aiding the immune defences of the nasal cavity. However, there is a distinction between utility and evolutionary origin. It may still be that the sinuses arose as an aid to facial growth and architecture, or persist as residual remnants of an evolutionary structure with an as yet unknown purpose, and in doing so have found an additional role as an adjunct to the nasal cavity.

Keywords

Paranasal SinusesAnatomyPhysiology
Type
Review Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 123 , Issue 1 , January 2009 , pp. 4 - 8
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

1 Wright, J. A History of Laryngology and Rhinology, 2nd edn. New York: Lea and Febiger, 1914CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2 Vesalius, A. De Humani Corporis Fabrica. 1542; Lib 1, Cap VI–IX (Cited by Wright, ibid;168)Google Scholar
3 Fallopius, G. Observations Anatomicae. Francofurti, 1600, p 367 (Italian translation by Righi Riva, G, Di Pietro, P. Moderna: STEM, 1964)Google Scholar
4 Galen, . De Usu Partium 1x, 2 et. seq. (Kuhn) III, p 691. (Translation by Tallamadge, M; New York: Cornell University Press, 1968)Google Scholar
5 Flottes, L, Clere, P, Rui, R, Devilla, F. La Physiologie des Sinus (Societe Francaise D'Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie). Paris: Libraire Arnette, 1960;359–60Google Scholar
6 Da Vinci, L, 1452 (Cited by Skillern RH. Accessory Sinuses of the Nose, 2nd edn. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1920)Google Scholar
7 Kemp, M. Da Vinci, Leonardo. London: Hayward Gallery, 1989;170Google Scholar
8 Pevsner, J. Leonardo da Vinci's contributions to neuroscience. Trends Neurosci 2002;25:217–20CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9 O'Malley, CD, Saunders, JB de, CM. Leonardo da Vinci, On the human body: the anatomical physiological and embryological drawings of Leonardo da Vinci. New York: H Schuman, 1952Google Scholar
10 Highmore, N. Corp Human Disquisition Anatom. Hagae: 1651Google Scholar
11 Blanton, PL, Biggs, NL. Eighteen hundred years of controversy: the paranasal sinuses. Am J Anat 1969;124:135–48CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12 Blaney, SPA. Why paranasal sinuses? J Laryngol Otol 1990;104:690–3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13 Bartholinus, T. Anatomica Ex Caspari Bartholini, Parentis Institutionibus, Omnique Recentorium Et Propriis Obsevationibus Tertium Ad Sanguinis Circulationem Reformata Cum Iconibus Novis Accuratisimis. Hagae: Comitis, 1660;488Google Scholar
14 Voltine, , 1888. (Cited by Skillern RH. Accessory Sinuses of the Nose, 2nd edn. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1920)Google Scholar
15 Zuckerkandl, E. Die Entwicklung des Siebeins. Verhandl d. Anat. Wein: Gesellsch, 1892;261–4Google Scholar
16 Howell, HP. Voice production from the stand point of the laryngologist. Ann Otol Rhin Laryngol 1917;26:643–55CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17 Wegner, R. Studien Uber Nebenhohlen Des Schadels Ver Schmelzungen Der Lebenhohlen Der Nase Rend Abanderungen Ihrer Offrungen Oer Primaten. Sonderdruck Aus Der Wissenschaftlichen Zeitschrift Der Ernst Moritz Arndt Universtat Griefswald Jahrgung V. (Cited by Flottes L, Clere P, Rui R, Devilla F. La Physiologie des Sinus (Societe Francaise D'Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie). Paris: Libraire Arnette, 1960;359–60)Google Scholar
18 Proetz, AW. Applied Physiology of the Nose, 2nd edn. Saint Louis: Annales Publishing, 1953;7–15, 44–68Google Scholar
19 Montandon, . Physiologie de Sinus Frontal. Societas O R L Latina (Cited by Flottes L, Clere P, Rui R, Devilla F. La Physiologie des Sinus (Societe Francaise D'Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie). Paris: Libraire Arnette, 1960;359–60)Google Scholar
20 Negus, V. The function of the paranasal sinuses. A M A Arch Otolaryngol 1957;66:430–42CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21 Schaeffer, JP. The nose, the paranasal sinuses, nasolachrymal passageways and olfactory organ in man. Philadelphia: Blakiston, 1920CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22 Braune, W, Clasen, FE. Die Nebenhohlen der Anismsus des Riechens. Ziet f Anat, Bd, 2, S 1. (Cited by Flottes L, Clere P, Rui R, Devilla F. La Physiologie des Sinus (Societe Francaise D'Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie). Paris: Libraire Arnette, 1960;359–60)Google Scholar
23 Proetz, AW. Some intimate studies of nasal function: their bearing on diagnosis and treatment. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1932;41:125–40CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24 Levine, H, Clemente, MP. Sinus Surgery: Endoscopic and Microscopic Approaches. New York: Thieme, 2005;57–62Google Scholar
25 Aust, R, Stierna, P, Drettner, B. Basic experimental studies of ostial patency and local metabolic environment of the maxillary sinus. Acta Otolaryngol 1994;515(suppl):7–11CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26 Cloquet, H. A System of Human Anatomy. Boston: Wells and Lilly, 1830Google Scholar
27 Williams, PL, Warwick, R. Gray's Anatomy, 36th edn. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1980Google Scholar
28 Koertvelyessy, T. Relationships between the frontal sinus and climatic conditions. A skeletal approach to cold adaptions. Am J Phy Anthrop 1972;37:161–73CrossRefGoogle Scholar
29 Tillier, AM. Les Sinus Craniens chez les Hommes Actuels et Fossils: Essai d'Interprétation. 1975 PhD thesis, Paris: University of Paris, 1975Google Scholar
30 Brothwell, DR, Molleson, T, Metreweli, C. Radiological aspects of normal variation in earlier skeletons: an exploratory study. In Brothwell, DR. The Skeletal Biology of Earlier Human Populations. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1968;149–172Google Scholar
31 Wolfowitz, BL. Pneumatization of the skull of the Southern African Negro. 1974 PhD thesis, Witwatersrand: University of Witwatersrand, 1974Google Scholar
32 Rae, T, Hill, R, Hamada, Y, Koppe, T. Clinical variation of maxillary sinus volume in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Am J Primatol 2003;59:153–8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
33 Negus, V. Introduction to the comparative anatomy of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 1954;15:141–71Google Scholar
34 Riu, L. Contribution a l'etude du roles des sinus paranasaux. Rev Laryngol Otol Rhinol (Bord) 1960;81:769–839Google Scholar
35 Proetz, AW. Observations upon the formation and function of the accessory nasal sinuses and the mastoid air cells. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1922;31:1083–100CrossRefGoogle Scholar
36 Galperin, J. Anatomicmechanic formation of the construction of the face skeleton [in German]. Ztschr F Hals Nasen u Ohrenh 1925;11:226Google Scholar
37 Eckel, W. Untersuchungen zur grossenentwicklung der kieferhohlen. Arch Ohr Has Kehl 1963;182:479–84CrossRefGoogle Scholar
38 Bookstein, F, Schafer, K, Prossinger, H, Seidler, H, Fieder, M, Stringer, C et al. Comparing frontal cranial profiles in archaic and modern Homo by morphometric analysis. Anat Rec 1999;257:217–243.0.CO;2-W>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
39 Prossinger, H, Bookstein, F, Schafer, K, Seidler, H. Reemerging stress: supraorbital torus morphology in the mid-sagittal plane? Anat Rec 2000;261:170–23.0.CO;2-2>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
40 Takahashi, R. The formation of human paranasal sinuses. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl 1984;408(suppl):1–28CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
41 Rae, TC, Koppe, T. Holes in the head. Evolutionary interpretations of the paranasal sinuses in catarrhines. Evol Anthropl 2004;13:211–23CrossRefGoogle Scholar
42 Moore, W. The mammalian skull. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981Google Scholar
43 Novacek, M. Patterns of diversity in the mammalian skull. In: Hanken, J, Hall, B, eds. The Skull: Patterns of Structural and Systematic Diversity. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993;2:438–545Google Scholar
44 Hershkovitz, P. Living New World Monkeys (Platyrrhini), with an Introduction to the Primates. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1977;1Google Scholar
45 Rae, T. The maxillary sinus in primate paleontology and systematics. In: Koppe, T, Nagai, H, Alt, K, eds. The Paranasal Sinuses of Higher Primates: Development, Function and Evolution. Chicago: Quintessence, 1999;177–89Google Scholar
46 Koppe, T, Rae, T, Swindler, D. Influence of craniofacial morphology on primate paranasal pneumatization. Ann Anat 1999;181:77–80CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
47 Rossie, J. Platyrrhine paranasal sinus patterns: a preliminary investigation. Am J Anthropol 2000;30(suppl):265Google Scholar
48 Biggs, NL, Blanton, PL. The role of paranasal sinuses as weight reducers of the head determined by electromyography of postural neck muscles. Journal of Biomechanics 1970;3:255–62CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
49 Hardy, A. Was man more aquatic in the past? New Scientist 1960;7:642–5Google Scholar
50 Evans, PHR. The paranasal sinuses and other enigmas: an aquatic evolutionary theory. J Laryngol Otol 1992;106:214–25CrossRefGoogle Scholar
51 Gould, S, Vbra, E. Exaptation: a missing term in the science of form. Paleobiol 1982;8:4–15CrossRefGoogle Scholar
52 Haller, A. Elementa physiologiae corporis humani. Liber XIV. 1763; 5, p 180. (Cited by Wright J. A History of Laryngology and Rhinology, 2nd edn. New York: Lea and Febiger, 1914;169)Google Scholar
53 Mygind, N, Winther, B. Immunological barriers in the nose and paranasal sinuses. Arch Otolaryngol 1987;103:363–8Google ScholarPubMed
54 Ballenger, JJ. Diseases of the nose, throat, ear, head and neck. New York: Lea and Febiger, 1985CrossRefGoogle Scholar
55 Haight, JSJ, Djupesland, PG, Qjan, W, Chatkin, JM, Furlott, H, Irish, J et al. Does nasal nitric oxide come from the sinuses? J Otolaryngol 1999;28:197–204Google ScholarPubMed
56 Lundberg, J, Farkas-Szallasi, T, Weitzberg, E, Rinder, J, Lidholm, J, Anggard, A et al. High nitric oxide production in human paranasal sinuses. Natural Med 1995;1:370–3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
57 Menzel, L, Hess, A, Bloch, W, Michel, O, Schuster, KD, Gabler, R et al. Temporal nitric oxide dynamics in the paranasal sinuses during humming. J Appl Physiol 2005;98:2064–71CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed