sinus
/ˈsaɪnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsaɪnəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsī-nəs/ (ame, mw)
sinus — noun
- sinussingular
- sinusesplural
1. small air-filled spaces inside the skull bones around the nose and eyes that pro
small air-filled spaces inside the skull bones around the nose and eyes that produce mucus and help keep the head lighter — when these become blocked or infected, a person feels pain and pressure in the face.
Aisha went to the clinic because the pressure in her sinuses made her forehead ache.
collocation: sinus pressure
Mei-Lin needed antibiotics to clear up her sinus infection after ten days of facial pain.
collocation: sinus infection
Carlos used a warm towel over his nose to help his blocked sinuses drain more easily.
People with chronic sinus problems often feel tenderness around their eyes and cheeks.
The sudden drop in air pressure during landing caused Tariq's sinuses to throb with pain.
- cavity
A more general term for any hollow space; not specific to the head or nose.
- nasal passage
The air channel inside the nose, distinct from the bony sinuses around it.
文法句型
sinus + noun: sinus infection / sinus pressure
plural: sinuses
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the plural form 'sinuses' when referring to the nasal cavities as a group. Individual sinuses are named by location — frontal, maxillary, ethmoid, and sphenoid.
常見錯誤
2. a narrow channel that develops inside the body when an infection creates a pathw
a narrow channel that develops inside the body when an infection creates a pathway for pus to drain from an infected area through the skin or mucous membrane.
The dentist spotted a small sinus on Fatima's gum where pus from the infected tooth was draining.
collocation: dental sinus
Dr. Okafor cleaned the sinus tract and prescribed antibiotics to remove the source of infection.
collocation: sinus tract
After the abdominal surgery, a draining sinus formed near the cut and needed daily dressing changes.
The ultrasound revealed a narrow sinus running from the deep abscess up toward the outer skin layer.
文法句型
sinus + noun: sinus tract
dental / draining + sinus
用法筆記
In medical writing the term 'sinus tract' or 'draining sinus' is preferred to avoid confusion with nasal sinuses. Commonly follows an infection, surgery, or injury.
常見錯誤
3. a small group of cells in the upper right chamber of the heart that produces ele
a small group of cells in the upper right chamber of the heart that produces electrical signals to control the heartbeat and keep a regular rhythm, also called the sinoatrial node.
The sinus node sends out tiny electrical pulses about sixty to one hundred times every minute.
collocation: sinus node
When the sinus node stops working properly, a person's heartbeat may become dangerously slow.
Cardiologists monitor the sinus node with an electrocardiogram to check whether all signals are normal.
The cardiologist told Kenji that sinus node dysfunction was causing his irregular pulse, not a blocked artery.
- sinoatrial node
The full anatomical name; 'sinus node' is a shortened form.
- pacemaker
A device that does the same job artificially, or used informally to describe the node itself.
文法句型
sinus node + verb: generates / sends / controls
用法筆記
Almost always paired with 'node' — the standalone word 'sinus' in a cardiology context is understood as 'sinus node.' The normal heartbeat rhythm produced here is called 'sinus rhythm.'
常見錯誤
4. a wide channel inside the skull that collects blood without oxygen from the brai
a wide channel inside the skull that collects blood without oxygen from the brain and carries it back toward the heart, differing from normal veins because its walls are made of tough outer membrane rather than muscle.
A blood clot in a cerebral venous sinus can prevent used blood from leaving the brain.
collocation: venous sinus
The surgeon carefully worked around the large dural sinuses while removing the brain tumor.
collocation: dural sinus
Unlike ordinary veins, the walls of a venous sinus are formed by layers of tough membrane.
A blockage in the transverse sinus caused blood to pool and increased pressure inside Sofia's skull.
- dural sinus
Specifically refers to the channels between layers of the dura mater in the brain.
- venous lake
A very rare alternative term for a similar structure, not standard in anatomy.
文法句型
venous / dural / cerebral + sinus
用法筆記
Most commonly paired with an adjective specifying location — 'dural sinus,' 'cerebral sinus,' 'cavernous sinus.' The structure is classified as a sinus rather than a vein because of its unique wall composition.