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Which skull bones contain the paranasal sinuses?
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Sagittal view of the human nasal cavity.
The paranasal sinuses are air-filled cavities located within four specific bones of the skull that adjoin the nasal cavity. These include:1
- Frontal bones: Two sinuses situated immediately above and between the eye sockets.1
- Maxillary bones: The largest of the air sinuses, located within the upper jaw.1
- Ethmoid bones: A collection of thin-walled cavities (ethmoidal labyrinths) located between the nasal cavities and the eye sockets.1
- Sphenoid bone: Sinuses situated at the back of the nose, forming part of the base of the skull.1
These sinuses are lined with mucous membrane and communicate with the nasal cavity through small openings called ostia.1