Barbarian
Member
My daughter, working through a sinus infection asked me that question. And I didn't know. So I did some looking.
Apparently, no one really knows. It does have some role in humidifying the nasal passages, but it doesn't look as though it's necessary.
The paranasal sinuses may act simply to improve nasal function; certainly, it has been demonstrated that they may act as an adjunct in the production of nitric oxide and in aiding the immune defences of the nasal cavity. However, there is a distinction between utility and evolutionary origin. It may still be that the sinuses arose as an aid to facial growth and architecture, or persist as residual remnants of an evolutionary structure with an as yet unknown purpose, and in doing so have found an additional role as an adjunct to the nasal cavity.
J Laryngol Otol. 2009 Jan;123(1):4-8
Turns out, very primitive apes had four sinuses. African apes and humans have four also. But Asian apes have only two. So another bit of evidence for human descent from African apes. So the recent hypothesis of two scientists that humans evolved from an asian ape seems to have taken yet another hit.
Apparently, no one really knows. It does have some role in humidifying the nasal passages, but it doesn't look as though it's necessary.
The paranasal sinuses may act simply to improve nasal function; certainly, it has been demonstrated that they may act as an adjunct in the production of nitric oxide and in aiding the immune defences of the nasal cavity. However, there is a distinction between utility and evolutionary origin. It may still be that the sinuses arose as an aid to facial growth and architecture, or persist as residual remnants of an evolutionary structure with an as yet unknown purpose, and in doing so have found an additional role as an adjunct to the nasal cavity.
J Laryngol Otol. 2009 Jan;123(1):4-8
Turns out, very primitive apes had four sinuses. African apes and humans have four also. But Asian apes have only two. So another bit of evidence for human descent from African apes. So the recent hypothesis of two scientists that humans evolved from an asian ape seems to have taken yet another hit.