[Change of airflow patterns inside the maxillary sinus influenced by uncinate process].
OBJECTIVE
to study the change of the airflow patterns inside the maxillary sinus that influenced by uncinate process.


METHODS
Two kinds of cadavers were used, one had a normal uncinate process and the others had an out-gressin uncinate process. The airflow patterns inside the maxillary sinus were compared between them. Also compared were the airflow patterns inside the maxillary sinus before and after the excision of the uncinate process.


RESULTS
The airflow patterns inside the maxillary sinus in cadavers with a normal uncinate process exchanged actively. The smoke easily entered the maxillary sinus and could be found easily. It entered in the maxillary sinus with a whirlpool form. It cost about (11.4 +/- 1.4) s till the smoke dissipated from the maxillary sinus. On the other hand, in cadavers with an out-gressin uncinate process, the airflow patterns inside the maxillary sinus exchanged inductively. The smoke entered in the maxillary sinus and could be observed, but it was less than that in cadavers with a normal uncinate process. The form of the smoke could not be judged. It cost (24.2 +/- 1.6) s till the smoke dissipated from the maxillary sinus. The airflow patterns inside the maxillary sinus became inactive after the excision of the uncinate process in all kinds of cadavers.


CONCLUSIONS
The normal uncinate process permits the physiological commutation of air inside the maxillary sinus.
Jiang
Guang-li
GL
Otorhinolaryngology Hospital of the First Affiliated of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Xu
Geng
G
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012119:Respiration