title: Airflow and temperature distribution inside the maxillary sinus: a computational fluid dynamics simulation.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  The airflow velocity and flux in maxillary sinuses were much lower than those in the nasal cavity, and the temperature in maxillary sinuses was much higher than the temperature in the middle meatus. With the increase of maximum diameter of the ostium, the above indices changed little.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the paper was to investigate, first, the flow and temperature distribution inside normal maxillary sinus in inspiration, and second, flow and temperature alteration with the increase of maximum ostium diameter.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-dimensional models with nasal cavities and bilateral maxillary sinuses were constructed for computational fluid dynamics analysis. Virtual surgeries were implemented for the maxillary ostium, the maximum diameters of which were 8, 10, 12, and 15 mm, respectively. The finite volume method was used for numerical simulation. The indices of velocity, pressure, vector, and temperature were processed and compared between models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The airflow velocity in maxillary sinuses (average velocity 0.062 m/s) was much lower than that in the middle meatus (average velocity 3.26 m/s). With the increase of ostium diameter, airflow characteristics distributed in the maxillary sinuses changed little. The normal temperature in the maxillary sinus remained almost constant at 34°C and changed little with the increase of ostium diameter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Mechanics, State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis for Industrial Equipment, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.
authors.forename: Hongrui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.forename: Yingxi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Demin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Luo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiuzhen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Lifeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011312:Pressure; D013696:Temperature; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed