[Venous drainage and innervation of the maxillary sinus]

The maxillary sinus, or "Highmore's antrum", is a cavity of the facial structure buried in the body of the maxillary body joined to the nasal fossae with which it communicates via the maxillary ostium. The dissection of 25 maxillary sinuses has enabled us to study its venous drainage and innervation. The venous system is collected either by a single trunk, which is a continuation of the spheno-palatine vein, or by three venous plexus: the anterior and posterior pterygoid plexus, and the alveolar plexus. The anterior and posterior pterygoid plexus converge through the lateral pterygoid muscle and connects with the alveolar plexus which drains partly into the maxillary vein and partly into the facial vein. The innervation of the maxillary sinus is ensured by the maxillary nerve (V2): the second branch of the trigeminal nerve and its collateral branches. During the course of its track the maxillary nerve becomes successively the spheno-palatine nerve and the anterior orbital nerve, and gives rise to some collateral branches: the posterior and superior alveolar ramus, the medium and superior alveolar nexus and the anterior and superior alveolar ramus.