Edit: y’all, didn’t you know we have two noses and one nostril sheesh 🤧
In: Biology
There are two maxillary sinuses, one on either side of your nose in your upper jaw. They are pyramidal in shape, with the apex pointing toward your ear and the base toward your nose. These sinuses open into your nose, between small bones called the nasal conchae.
The goblet cells present in the lining of these sinuses secrete mucus, which helps humidify inhaled air and trap foreign bodies(dust, bacteria etc), which is then drained out through the opening(called maxillary Ostia) described above. Now, our anatomical evolution screwed up a bit(or maybe it’s genius by design). Imagine draining a half filled cylinder when the hole is at a level above that of water. How will you drain it? By tilting it to its side, right? That’s how a congested maxillary sinus is drained.
Say, you have sinusitis in your right sinus and it’s congested. The mucus can’t drain because the opening of that sinus is at a higher level than that which will permit easy drainage. So, you lie down on your left side. This way, the opening will face downward, allowing a clear path to escape for the mucus, aided by gravity.
Now you may think that’s a shitty design, but you’ll thank evolution for saving you from becoming a slobbering mess when talking to that cute girl, or just doing any chore.
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