Which paranasal sinus is typically the last to develop?

The frontal sinus is indeed the last of the paranasal sinuses to develop, typically forming during late childhood or early adolescence. This development is significant because the frontal sinuses do not appear at birth and gradually grow as the individual ages, usually becoming fully developed around the ages of 7 to 8 or even later.

In contrast, the other paranasal sinuses have different developmental timelines. For instance, the maxillary sinuses are usually present at birth, and the ethmoid sinuses start developing very early in life as well. The sphenoid sinus begins to develop around the age of 2 and is usually well-formed by the time a child reaches adulthood. This knowledge regarding the developmental timelines is essential for understanding sinus anatomy and potential related pathologies in both pediatric and adult patients.