OBJECTIVEto study the change of the airflow patterns inside the maxillary sinus that influenced by uncinate process.

METHODSTwo kinds of cadavers were used, one had a normal uncinate process and the others had an out-gressin uncinate process. The airflow patterns inside the maxillary sinus were compared between them. Also compared were the airflow patterns inside the maxillary sinus before and after the excision of the uncinate process.

RESULTSThe airflow patterns inside the maxillary sinus in cadavers with a normal uncinate process exchanged actively. The smoke easily entered the maxillary sinus and could be found easily. It entered in the maxillary sinus with a whirlpool form. It cost about (11.4 +/- 1.4) s till the smoke dissipated from the maxillary sinus. On the other hand, in cadavers with an out-gressin uncinate process, the airflow patterns inside the maxillary sinus exchanged inductively. The smoke entered in the maxillary sinus and could be observed, but it was less than that in cadavers with a normal uncinate process. The form of the smoke could not be judged. It cost (24.2 +/- 1.6) s till the smoke dissipated from the maxillary sinus. The airflow patterns inside the maxillary sinus became inactive after the excision of the uncinate process in all kinds of cadavers.

CONCLUSIONSThe normal uncinate process permits the physiological commutation of air inside the maxillary sinus.