Maxillary Sinus Measurements in Different Age Groups of Human Cadavers

Abstract

The maxillary air sinus is the largest air sinus among the four air paranasal sinuses, which is a cavity in the body of maxilla. It is pyramidal in shape co nsisting of base, apex and four sides; its base comprises the thin lateral wall of nasal cavity. This study carried out at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Baghdad and the Forensic Medicine Unit in Tikrit Teaching Hospital during the period from January 2010 to July 2011. A randomized sample of 110 human cadavers that arranged in four different age groups and dissected to study the three dimensions of both maxillary sinuses in both sexes by using a standard flexible tape measure or vernier caliper. The mean v alue of the maxillary sinus length in males was (36.4 ± 4.6 mm) and in females was (33.9 ± 4.2 mm); from these results, the mean value of males was significantly greater than that of females. On the other side, the mean value of the maxillary sinus width in males was (27.4 ± 4 mm) and in females was (25.3 ± 3.9 mm); therefore, these results demonstrate that the maxillary sinuses were wider in males than females. For males, the mean value of the maxillary sinus height was (35.1 ± 3.9 mm) and for females was (30.8 ± 3.6 mm). From these findings, a higher significant difference between the mean values was found; also there was a high significant difference between the two genders because the mean value of the maxillary sinus height for males was significantly higher than that for females. According to age groups of the present study, group 1 of maxillary sinus found to be still in growing state and not reaching its full size. Group 2 showing an extensive growth in maxillary sinus length and width, especially on the right side. Group 3 might partly showing growth in maxillary sinus length and height, which indicates that at this age the maxillary sinus reaches its full height. Finally, group 4 might partly indicates that the maxillary sinus reaches its full growth if it fails to reach it in group 3. The findings of the present study disagree with that done by Parks who mademeasurements for the maxillary sinuses on normal Korean adults using computed tomography, since these differences were may be due to ethnic variations. Also due to race differences, this study disagree with Fernandes (2) who studied the maxillary sinus in European and Zulu using computed tomography.