What Are the Four Types of Sinuses? | CT Sinus Center

When we say sinuses and sinusitis, what do you picture? Your nose? Your cheeks? The bridge of your nose? What about the area above your eyebrows? Well, if you answered any of these facial areas, you€˜d be right. The sinuses are not just one thing; they are actually a four-part structure. In this blog, we’re going to briefly examine each one.

The photo identifies each of the four types of sinuses, which are correspondingly named after the bone where they are located. All four, collectively called the paranasal sinuses, connect through the hollow cavity of the skull. This cavity is called, as you may have guessed, the sinus cavity.

The American Rhinologic Society breaks down the paranasal anatomy with corresponding images on their website.

• Maxillary sinus: one sinus located within the bone of each cheek (in your cheeks)
• Ethmoid sinuses: a honeycomb-like structure of 6-12 small sinuses located under the bone of the inside corner of each eye (between your eyes)
• Frontal: one sinus per side, located within the bone of the forehead above the level of the eyes and nasal bridge (at the bottom center of your forehead)
• Sphenoid sinus: one sinus per side, located behind the ethmoid sinuses (behind your nose)

According to Merck Manual, there are certain symptoms associated with the different sinus areas:

• Maxillary: pain over the cheeks just below the eyes, toothache, and headache
• Frontal: a headache over the forehead.
• Ethmoid: pain behind and between the eyes, tearing, and headache (often described as splitting) over the forehead
• Sphenoid: pain that does not occur in well-defined areas and may be felt in the front or back of the head

No matter which area(s) is affected, sinusitis will make a person feel overall not well.

If you are experiencing acute or chronic sinusitis, our expert doctors at CT Sinus Center can help. When you first come in, we will take the time to sit down with you and thoroughly discuss your symptoms, your current treatment regime, and how we can help you find long-lasting relief.

You may even be a candidate balloon sinuplasty, a noninvasive, in-house procedure done with local anesthesia, that promotes natural drainage and healing, leaving you sinus pain-free and breathing more freely.

Call 860-BALLOON to schedule an appointment at one of CT Sinus Center’s four conveniently-located offices – Ken and Waterbury – and give your paranasal sinuses some love…

For additional information on sinus-related conditions or treatments, read more about CT Sinus Center and take a look at our blog.