This article is about the mammal maxilla. For arthropod maxillae, see Mouthparts; for insect maxillae in particular, see Insect mouthparts.

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 arch[1]
MeSH	Maxilla

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
• The maxillary sinus

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.	Facial bones.	Left maxilla. Outer surface.	Left maxilla. Nasal surface.
Left maxillary sinus opened from the exterior.	The bony palate and alveolar arch.	Sphenoid bone visible center right.	Articulation of left palatine bone with maxilla.
Side view of the teeth and jaws.

See also

• Bone terminology
• Terms for anatomical location
• Ossification of maxilla
• Hypostome
• Maxillofacial surgery

References

This article needs additional citations for verification. 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 As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.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

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