Journal of Applied Physiology AJP: Endocrinology and Metabolism
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J Appl Physiol 107: 1195-1203, 2009. First published July 16, 2009; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.91615.2008
8750-7587/09 $8.00
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Computational modeling of flow and gas exchange in models of the human maxillary sinus

C. M. Hood,1 R. C. Schroter,1 D. J. Doorly,2 E. J. S. M. Blenke,2,3 and N. S. Tolley3

Department of 1Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of 2Aeronautics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of 3Otolaryngology, St. Mary's Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom

Submitted 18 December 2008 ; accepted in final form 10 July 2009

The present study uses numerical modeling to increase the understanding of sinus gas exchange, which is thought to be a factor in sinus disease. Order-of-magnitude estimates and computational fluid dynamics simulations were used to investigate convective and diffusive transport between the nose and the sinus in a range of simplified geometries. The interaction between mucociliary transport and gas exchange was modeled and found to be negligible. Diffusion was the dominant transport mechanism for small ostia and large concentration differences between the sinus and the nose, whereas convection was important for larger ostia or smaller concentration differences. The presence of one or more accessory ostia can increase the sinus ventilation rate by several orders of magnitude, because it allows a net flow through the sinus. Estimates of nitric oxide (NO) transport through the ostium based on measured sinus and nasal NO concentrations suggest that the sinuses cannot supply all the NO in nasally exhaled air.

nose; airflow; computational fluid dynamics; nitric oxide


Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: C. M. Hood, Dept. of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, Royal School of Mines Bldg., London SW7 2AZ, UK (e-mail: c.hood06{at}imperial.ac.uk).






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