Maxilla

You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.

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
Dorlands / Elsevier	m_05/12517279

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-525-6884

Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.

Overview

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.	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

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 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

bs:Gornja vilica

de:Maxillafr:Os maxillaire it:Osso mascellare ku:Jorkajû la:Maxilla lt:Viršutinis žandikaulis nl:Maxilla (anatomie) ja:上顎骨sl:Zgornja čeljustnica sr:Горња вилица fi:Yläleuka sv:Överkäkeuk:Верхньощелепна кістка

WikiDoc Help Menu Quick Start.. Get Started Here! How to Login How to Search Pages How to Start a New Page How to Edit a Page Cheat Sheet Editing basics Learning Basic Formatting How to make Links in WikiDoc & to External Sites How to Make Lists How to Ignoring Formatting Adding References or Footnotes to Articles Tracking Changes You Have Made How to Put an Article Into a Category When Multiple Topics Should Go To The Same Page (MI, Acute MI, AMI) Using Redirection Advanced editing How to Make Tables How to Insert Images and Other Media How to Add Video Help:How to Make Columns Web Colors How To Make Templates How to Move Pages Inserting Dynamic Dates and Times Inserting WikiDoc Statistics Editing the Table of Contents Communicating your edits Let others know what you changed: The importance of Edit Summaries Minor Edits Edit Conflicts Help Videos You Can Watch Getting Started Video

Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content

Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .