Maxilla

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Bone: Maxilla
Side view. Maxilla visible at bottom left, in green.
Front view. Maxilla visible at center, in yellow.
Gray's	subject #38 157
MeSH	A02.835.232.781.324.502.645
Dorlands/Elsevier	m_05/12517279

The maxillae are the largest bones of the face, except for the mandible, and form, by their union, the whole of the upper jaw.

[edit] Function

They hold the upper teeth, and connect on the left and right to the zygomatic bones (cheek bones).

Each assists in forming the boundaries of three cavities:

• the roof of the mouth
• the floor and lateral wall of the nose
• 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.

[edit] Components

Each bone consists of:

• Body of maxilla
• Four processes
  • Zygomatic process
  • Frontal process
  • Alveolar process
  • Palatine process

[edit] 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 its fellow of the opposite side.

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

[edit] See also

• Bone terminology
• Terms for anatomical location
• Ossification of maxilla

[edit] 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 As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.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.