Maxilla, Maxilla Information, Maxilla Wiki

Bone: Maxilla

Side view. Maxilla visible at bottom left, in green.

Front view. Maxilla visible at center, in yellow.
Gray\'s	subject #38 157
Precursor	1st branchial archhednk-023 — Embryology at UNC
MeSH	Maxilla
Dorlands/Elsevier	m_05/12517279

The maxilla (plural: maxillae) is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper jaw. This is similar to the mandible, which is also a fusion of two halves at the mental symphysis.

Function

The alveolar process of the maxilla holds the upper teeth, and is referred to as the maxillary arch. The maxilla attaches laterally to the zygomatic bones (cheek bones).

The maxilla assists in forming the boundaries of three cavities:

the roof of the mouth
the floor and lateral wall of the nasal antrum
the floor of the orbit

The maxilla also enters into the formation of two fossae: the infratemporal and pterygopalatine, and two fissures, the inferior orbital and pterygomaxillary.

Components

Each half of the fused maxilla consists of:

The body of the maxilla
Four processes
- The zygomatic process
- The frontal process
- The alveolar process
- The palatine process
Infraorbital foramen

Articulations

The maxilla articulates with nine bones:

two of the cranium: the frontal and ethmoid
seven of the face: the nasal, zygomatic, lacrimal, inferior nasal concha, palatine, vomer, and the adjacent fused maxillary bone.

Sometimes it articulates with the orbital surface, and sometimes with the lateral pterygoid plate of the sphenoid.

Additional images

The seven bones which articulate to form the orbit.

Illu facial bones.jpg

Facial bones.

Gray157.png

Left maxilla. Outer surface.

Gray158.png

Left maxilla. Nasal surface.

Gray159.png

Left maxillary sinus opened from the exterior.

Gray160.png

The bony palate and alveolar arch.

Gray164.png

Sphenoid bone visible center right.

Gray167.png

Articulation of left palatine bone with maxilla.

Gray995.png

Side view of the teeth and jaws.

References

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Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2007)

External links

SUNY Labs 22:os-1901

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray\'s Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

v • d • e

The Bones which form the Orbit

Frontal bone • Zygomatic bone • Maxillary bone • Sphenoid bone • Ethmoid bone • Palatine bone • Lacrimal bone

v • d • e

Bones of head and neck: the facial bones of the the skull

Maxilla

Surfaces

Anterior: fossae (Incisive fossa, Canine fossa) - Infraorbital foramen - Anterior nasal spine

Infratemporal: Alveolar canals - Maxillary tuberosity

Orbital: Infraorbital groove - Infraorbital canal

Nasal: Pterygopalatine canal

Processes

Zygomatic process

Frontal process (Agger nasi, Anterior lacrimal crest)

Alveolar process

Palatine process (Incisive foramen, Incisive canals, Foramina of Scarpa, Incisive bone, Anterior nasal spine)

Other

Body of maxilla - Maxillary sinus

Zygomatic

Orbital process (Zygomatico-orbital) - Temporal process (Zygomaticotemporal) - Lateral process (Zygomaticofacial)

Palatine

Fossae	Pterygopalatine fossa - Pterygoid fossa
Plates	Horizontal plate (Posterior nasal spine) - Perpendicular plate (Pterygopalatine canal, Sphenopalatine foramen, Pyramidal process)
Processes	Orbital - Sphenoidal

Mandible

Body	external surface (Symphysis menti, Mental protuberance, Mental foramen) - internal surface (Mental spine, Mylohyoid line, Sublingual fovea, Submandibular fovea) - Alveolar part of mandible
Ramus	Mylohyoid groove (Mandibular canal, Lingula) - Mandibular foramen - Angle Coronoid process - Mandibular notch - Condyloid process

Minor/
nose

Nasal bone: Internasal suture - Nasal foramina

Inferior nasal concha: Ethmoidal process - Maxillary process

Vomer: Wing

Lacrimal: Posterior lacrimal crest - Lacrimal groove - Lacrimal hamulus

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Maxilla

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