How is the frontal sinus typically examined?

The frontal sinus is typically examined by thumbing on the brow and the side of the nose. This method allows the clinician to palpate the frontal sinus region, helping to assess for tenderness or swelling, which could indicate sinusitis or other pathology. By applying pressure in these areas, the examiner can elicit pain or discomfort that may suggest an underlying issue with the frontal sinuses.

Other techniques, such as nasal endoscopy, are more specialized for viewing the nasal cavity and sinuses directly, but they do not involve the initial physical examination of the frontal sinus in the same accessible manner as palpation does. Similarly, palpating the submandibular area or thumbing under the chin focuses on different anatomical areas and does not directly assess the condition of the frontal sinus. Therefore, thumbing on the brow and side of the nose is the most appropriate technique for examining the frontal sinus.