nasal sinus

3.7

An air space in the bones near the nose lined with mucus

noun
/ˈneɪzəl ˈsaɪnəs/

Specialized

: seno nasal

The doctor explained that inflammation of the nasal sinus can lead to difficulty breathing.

Examples

Case 1 showed involvement of the nasal sinuses, parotid glands, subcutaneous facial skin, and orbit.

Academic text (2004)
Histologic examination of nasal sinus tissue revealed microsporidial infection (see Results).

Academic text (1998)
She felt pressure in her forehead and cheeks, indicating an issue with her nasal sinus.
After the cold, he noticed congestion in his nasal sinus that wouldn't go away.

Synonyms

sinus

vsnasal sinus

Specialized

40 3.9

An air-filled cavity in skull bones near the nose that connects to the inside of the nose

refers specifically to paired cavities in face bones adjacent to the nose

paranasal sinus

vsnasal sinus

Specialized

1 5.4

Air-filled spaces in the bones around the nose that connect to the inside of the nose

focuses on paired face bone cavities with lining continuous with the nose lining

sinus paranasales

vsnasal sinus

Specialized

6.7

Hollow spaces in the bones around the nose lined with a thin wet layer

is the common English anatomical term rather than the Latin form

Surface Forms

nasal sinus singular

nasal sinuses plural

Morphology

nasal + sinus

The phrase is a straightforward noun phrase in which 'nasal' (relating to the nose) modifies 'sinus' (an air-filled cavity), so the combined meaning is directly predictable from the constituents. This compositional pattern is common across languages and follows standard English noun-modifier composition, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Nasal sinus combines nasal (about the nose) and sinus (a hollow or 'pocket'). It names the small air-filled 'rooms' in the bones beside your nose, and that's why when these pockets fill with fluid or swell we call it a 'sinus' problem.