Ventilatory effects of the pulse wave in the maxillary sinus.

The perostial ventilation of the human maxillary sinus is achieved via three main factors: diffusion, respiration wave and the mucosal pulse wave. The ventilatory factors have been studied with the help of a model sinus. The values used in the model are based upon in vivo human studies. Diffusion is responsible for the most important ventilatory effect in large ostia. Respiration has a ventilatory effect in all ostial sizes. The mucosal pulse has a ventilatory effect when the pulse volume exceeds the dead space of the ostium. When the ostial volume is diminished, the pulse-induced ventilation increases and keeps the total ventilation constant regardless of ostial size. In very small ostia, the mucosal pulse and respiration are the two important ventilatory factors.