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What drains into the Semilunar hiatus

Author

Sarah Cherry

Published Mar 29, 2026

The semilunar hiatus is the gap that empties the ethmoid infundibulum located between the uncinate process and the ethmoid bulla. The nasal fontanelles are described as an area of the lateral nasal wall where no bone exists. The natural ostium of the maxillary sinus is located in the anterior fontanelle.

Which sinus drains into the semilunar hiatus?

The hiatus semilunaris (or semilunar hiatus) is a crescent-shaped groove in the lateral wall of the nasal cavity just inferior to the ethmoidal bulla. It is the location of the openings for the frontal sinus, maxillary sinus, and anterior ethmoidal sinus.

Where does hiatus semilunaris drain to?

3.4. Hiatus semilunaris receives drainage from the ethmoid bulla. The maxillary sinus and often the frontal sinus, depending on the superior attachment of the uncinate process, drain into the ethmoid infundibulum.

What is the semilunar hiatus?

The hiatus semilunaris is a semicircular shaped opening located on the lateral wall of the nasal cavity. It is a component of the ostiomeatal complex and serves as the opening for the frontal and maxillary sinuses and the anterior ethmoid air cells.

Is the semilunar hiatus part of the middle meatus?

On the middle meatus it is a rounded elevation, the bulla ethmoidalis, and below and in front of this is a curved cleft, the hiatus semilunaris.

Where does the maxillary sinus drain into?

The maxillary sinus drains into the nose through a hole called the ostia. When the ostia becomes clogged, sinusitis can occur. The ostia of the maxillary sinus often clog because the ostia are located near the top of the maxillary sinus, thus making proper drainage difficult.

What are Conchae?

The conchae are structures made of bone inside of your nose. They help control the airflow into your nose. They also clean and warm air that you’ve inhaled so that it’s ready to go to your lungs for respiration. Respiration is the process of breathing in and out.

Where does frontal sinus open?

Each opens into the anterior part of the corresponding middle nasal meatus of the nose through the frontonasal duct which traverses the anterior part of the labyrinth of the ethmoid. These structures then open into the semilunar hiatus in the middle meatus.

What drains into inferior meatus?

The inferior meatus (plural: meatus) is an air passage of the lateral nasal cavity located between the inferior nasal concha and lateral nasal wall. The nasolacrimal duct drains into the inferior meatus, and Woodruff plexus is located posteriorly.

What is hiatus Semilunaris superior?

The hiatus semilunaris superior is a “crescent-shaped cleft between the ethmoid bulla and the middle turbinate. ‘? It too is a two-dimensional area and it leads to the suprabullar and retrobullar recesses (the sinus lateralis of Grunwald) and ultimately to the frontal recess (Figure 1B).

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What sinuses drain into middle meatus?

The anterior ethmoid air cells, maxillary and frontal sinuses all drain into the middle meatus.

What is an ethmoid bulla?

The ethmoid bulla is the largest anterior ethmoid air cell. It is also one of the most consistent air cells in the middle meatus and is therefore a reliable anatomic landmark (Fig. 2.13). It often lacks a posterior wall, which is why it is not called a cell but rather a bony lamella with a large airspace behind it.

Where is Agger Nasi?

Agger nasi air cells are the most anterior ethmoidal air cells lying anterolateral and inferior to the frontal recess and anterior and above the attachment of the middle turbinate. They are located within the lacrimal bone and therefore have as lateral relations the orbit, the lacrimal sac and the nasolacrimal duct.

What is frontal sinusitis?

Frontal sinusitis is inflammation or infection of the sinuses located just behind the eyes and in the forehead. The sinuses are a system of connected hollow cavities in the face that contain air and a thin layer of mucus. All sinuses produce mucus that moisturizes the airways and drains into the nasal passages.

How maxillary hiatus is reduced?

In the articulated skull this aperture is much reduced in size by the following bones: the uncinate process of the ethmoid above, the ethmoidal process of the inferior nasal concha below, the vertical part of the palatine behind, and a small part of the lacrimal above and in front; the sinus communicates with the …

What is a Turbinoplasty?

Turbinoplasty and turbinectomy are nose surgeries. They can make it easier for you to breathe. You may have one of these surgeries if the turbinates in your nose are too large and block the airways in your nose. You may have a drip pad under your nose to collect mucus and blood.

What are the paranasal sinuses?

The paranasal sinuses are air-filled spaces located within the bones of the skull and facial bones.

What is Concha nose?

nasal concha, also called Turbinate, or Turbinal, any of several thin, scroll-shaped bony elements forming the upper chambers of the nasal cavities. They increase the surface area of these cavities, thus providing for rapid warming and humidification of air as it passes to the lungs.

Where do sinuses drain into?

Both air and mucus flow through your sinuses and drain into your nose, through tiny openings called ostia (or singular, ostium). Little hairs called cilia help the mucus move through the sinus cavities. The mucus from the sinuses drains into your nasal passages and then down the back of your throat to be swallowed.

What is right maxillary antrum?

The maxillary sinus (also called the maxillary antrum) is a pyramidal cavity (see Figs. … The base of the pyramid is composed of the medial wall, which separates the maxillary sinus from the nasal cavity, and the apex is in the zygomatic process. Superiorly, the floor of the orbit forms the roof of the antrum.

Do sinuses drain into mouth?

A dental sinus may drain to: the inside of the mouth (an intraoral sinus), or, the skin surface of the face or neck (an extraoral, orofacial sinus).

Do tear ducts drain into the nose?

Tears drain into openings (puncta) on the inside corners of your upper and lower eyelids. The puncta lead to small canals (canaliculi) that move tears to a sac to a reservoir on the side of the nose (lacrimal sac). From there tears travel down a duct (the nasolacrimal duct) and drain into your nose.

Why do tears drain into the nasal cavity?

The nasolacrimal duct passes through the bony structures surrounding your nose and empties tears into the nasal cavity. With each blink, the eyelids push tears evenly across the eyeballs to keep them moist and healthy. Blinking also helps get old tears into the lacrimal drain system.

Can you be born without sinuses?

Like the appendix, sinuses are not a vital organ. One can do justfine without sinuses. People born without sinuses, or who have themsurgically replaced, don’t appear to have any significant problems. Moreover, the main beneficiaries of sinuses often are viruses andbacteria.

What three groups are sinuses divided into?

Paranasal sinuses are a group of four paired air-filled spaces that surround the nasal cavity. The maxillary sinuses are located under the eyes; the frontal sinuses are above the eyes; the ethmoidal sinuses are between the eyes and the sphenoidal sinuses are behind the eyes.

What is the ethmoid sinus?

A type of paranasal sinus (a hollow space in the bones around the nose). Ethmoid sinuses are found in the spongy ethmoid bone in the upper part of the nose between the eyes. They are lined with cells that make mucus to keep the nose from drying out.

Where does the sphenoid sinus drain?

The sphenoid sinus drains into the nose above the superior turbinate. The lateral wall of the sphenoid sinus contains the medial wall of the optic canal and the internal carotid artery. Because of this close anatomic relationship, sphenoid sinusitis may cause damage to the optic nerve.

Where is the Nasofrontal duct?

The nasofrontal duct is a duct connecting the infundibulum and frontal sinus.

Where is vomer bone?

The vomer is a small, thin, plow-shaped, midline bone that occupies and divides the nasal cavity. It articulates inferiorly on the midline with the maxillae and the palatines, superiorly with the sphenoid via its wings, and anterosuperiorly with the ethmoid.

What drains the maxillary sinus?

The maxillary sinus (or antrum of Highmore) is a paired pyramid-shaped paranasal sinus within the maxillary bone which drains via the maxillary ostium into the infundibulum, then through hiatus semilunaris into the middle meatus. It is the largest of the paranasal sinuses.

How do paranasal sinuses drain?

  1. Lay back with a warm compress draped across your nose, cheeks, and forehead for three minutes.
  2. Remove the warm compress and replace it with a cold compress for 30 seconds.
  3. Do this two to three times.