Applied anatomy of the nasolacrimal duct and the inner wall of the maxillary sinus

Zhang Shuxuan, Zou Xun, Zhang Yanghua, Wang Qianya, Zhou Fupeng, Yong Liujun

doi:10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2025.5.02

Chinese Journal of Clinical Anatomy >

2025 , Vol. 43 >Issue 5: 504 - 510

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2025.5.02

Applied anatomy of the nasolacrimal duct and the inner wall of the maxillary sinus

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1. Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610500, Sichuan Province, China; 2. Department of Human Anatomy, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610500, Sichuan Province, China

Received date: 2024-12-10

Online published: 2025-10-17

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Abstract

Objective To provide anatomical basis for the clinical study of nasolacrimal duct and maxillary sinus diseases through the applied anatomy of the inner wall of nasolacrimal duct and maxillary sinus in Chinese individuals. Methods The 30 nasolacrimal ducts from 15 adult cadaveric specimens and the inner wall of maxillary sinus were dissected. The structures of nasolacrimal duct, the inner wall of the maxillary sinus and the interconnections between them were observed and measured. Results The upper end of the bony nasolacrimal duct arose from the dacryocyst fossa and it walked diagonally backward, inward and downward in the anterior superior 1/4 bone wall of the inner wall of the maxillary sinus, and stopped at the anterior middle 1/3 junction of the top of the lateral wall of the lower nasal meatus, the thinnest bone of the inner wall of nasolacrimal duct was (1.02±0.38) mm, the thinnest bone of the lateral wall of nasolacrimal duct was (0.62±0.50) mm. The membranous nasolacrimal duct had a thin wall and the upper segment was covered by the bony nasolacrimal duct, the lower segment passed through the nasal mucosa into the deep surface of the inferior turbinate. The ostium of maxillary sinus was located at 1/3 of the inner wall of maxillary sinus and opened in the middle nasal meatus. The distance from the center of the ostium to the superior boundary of the inner wall of the maxillary sinus was (3.88±2.13) mm, the vertical distance between the center of the ostium and the bone nasolacrimal duct was (8.97±4.52) mm. The posterior lower part of the sinus ostium was usually the area with the thinnest bone in the middle nasal meatus, its bone thickness was (0.44±0.30) mm. The lateral wall of the inferior nasal meatus at the middle of 1/3 was the region with weak bone structure and its bone thickness was (0.34±0.13) mm. Conclusions The thickness of the lateral wall of the nasolacrimal duct is generally smaller than that of the inner wall. The connection to the maxillary sinus through the lateral wall can reduce the trauma. The posterior lower part of maxillary sinus has thin bone and is far away from nasolacrimal duct, so it is easy to perform sinus dilatation here without damaging nasolacrimal duct. The bone at the middle third of the lateral wall of the lower nasal meatus is thin, which is the best place for fenestration of the lower nasal meatus.

Key words： Nasolacrimal duct; ; ; Maxillary sinus; ; ; Applied anatomy

Cite this article

Zhang Shuxuan, Zou Xun, Zhang Yanghua, Wang Qianya, Zhou Fupeng, Yong Liujun . Applied anatomy of the nasolacrimal duct and the inner wall of the maxillary sinus[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Anatomy, 2025 , 43(5) : 504 -510 . DOI: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2025.5.02

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