MAXILLA ANATOMY
Maxilla - Disarticulated View, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.
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What is the maxilla?
- Key bone of your facial skeleton
- Forms your upper jaw
- Contributes to multiple anatomical regions:
- Roof of your oral cavity
- Orbital floor
- Lateral and inferior walls of your nasal cavity
What bones does the maxilla articulate with?
- Articulations:
- Frontal bone
- Ethmoid bone
- Nasal bone
- Zygomatic bone
- Lacrimal bone
- Inferior nasal concha
- Palatine bone
- Vomer
- Contralateral maxilla
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
Maxilla - Structural Segments, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.
What are the structural components of the maxilla?
- Central body
- Four projecting processes:
- Zygomatic process
- Frontal process
- Alveolar process
- Palatine process
BODY OF THE MAXILLA
What is the body of the maxilla?
- Central portion of the bone
- Contains your maxillary sinus
- Large pneumatic cavity
- Reduces your skull weight
- Contributes to your vocal resonance
- Features four distinct surfaces:
- Orbital surface
- Anterior surface
- Infratemporal surface
- Nasal surface
Orbital Surface
Orbital Surface of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.
What is the orbital surface of the maxilla?
- Superior aspect forming orbital floor
- Smooth triangular configuration
- Supports your ocular structures
What is the infraorbital groove and canal?
- Contains infra-orbital groove
- Begins at posterior border
- Continues as infra-orbital canal
- Transmits infra-orbital nerve and vessels
- Infra-orbital foramen — exit point onto your facial surface
- Provides innervation and blood supply to your midface
What is the maxillary orbital margin?
- Maxillary orbital margin
- Forms inferior orbital rim
- Separates orbital cavity from facial surface
Anterior Surface
Anterior Surface of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.
What is the anterior surface of the maxilla?
- Faces forward and slightly lateral
- Displays prominences corresponding to your tooth roots
What is the canine fossa?
- Canine fossa — depression on the anterior surface
- Located inferior to infra-orbital foramen
- Positioned superior to your canine tooth roots
What is the nasal notch?
- Nasal notch — deep concavity
- Contributes to piriform aperture
- Pear-shaped nasal opening
What is the anterior nasal spine?
- Anterior nasal spine
- Formed by union of left and right maxillae
- Located at inferior aspect of nasal notch
- Sharp projection
- Provides attachment for your septal cartilage
Infratemporal Surface
Infratemporal Surface of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.
What is the infratemporal surface of the maxilla?
- Posterior aspect
- Contributes to infratemporal fossa
- Contributes to pterygopalatine fossa
What is the maxillary tuberosity?
- Maxillary tuberosity — rounded eminence
- Located posterior to your last molar
- Serves as muscular attachment site
- Important landmark in dental procedures
What are the alveolar foramina and canals?
- Alveolar foramina and canals
- Transmit posterior superior alveolar nerves
- Transmit posterior superior alveolar vessels
- Supply your molar teeth
Nasal Surface
Nasal Surface of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.
What is the nasal surface of the maxilla?
- Medial aspect
- Forms your lateral nasal cavity wall
What is the lacrimal groove?
- Lacrimal groove — deep channel
- Combines with lacrimal bone
- Forms nasolacrimal canal
- Transmits nasolacrimal duct
- Drains your tears into your nasal cavity
What is the conchal crest?
- Conchal crest — bony ridge
- Articulates with inferior nasal concha
- Contributes to lateral nasal wall
What is the lacrimal margin?
- Lacrimal margin
- Articulates with lacrimal bone
- Contributes to medial orbital wall
What is the maxillary hiatus?
- Maxillary hiatus — large irregular opening
- Leads into your maxillary sinus
- Partially covered by adjacent bones in life
- Covered by mucous membrane
- Regulates your sinus airflow and drainage
What is the greater palatine groove?
- Greater palatine groove
- Located near posterior border
- Combines with palatine bone
- Forms greater palatine canal
- Transmits greater palatine nerve and vessels
- Supplies your hard palate
FRONTAL PROCESS
Frontal Process of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.
What is the frontal process of the maxilla?
- Upward projection from maxillary body
- Articulates with frontal bone
- Contributes to your lateral nasal boundary
- Contributes to medial orbital wall
What is the anterior lacrimal crest?
- Anterior lacrimal crest — vertical ridge
- Provides attachment for your lacrimal sac
- Provides attachment for your medial palpebral ligament
- Important for your lacrimal apparatus
What is the lacrimal notch?
- Lacrimal notch — posterior indentation
- Articulates with lacrimal bone
- Completes lacrimal fossa
- Houses your lacrimal sac
What is the ethmoidal crest?
- Ethmoidal crest — oblique ridge
- Located on frontal process
- Articulates with middle nasal concha of ethmoid
- Contributes to your nasal cavity architecture
ZYGOMATIC PROCESS
Zygomatic Process of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.
What is the zygomatic process of the maxilla?
- Lateral projection from maxillary body
- Articulates with zygomatic bone
- Forms part of infraorbital rim
- Contributes to your cheek prominence
- Maintains your facial contour
- Provides muscular attachment sites
PALATINE PROCESS
Palatine Process of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.
What is the palatine process of the maxilla?
- Medial projection from maxillary body
- Forms anterior three-quarters of your hard palate
- Separates your oral and nasal cavities
- Serves as your nasal cavity floor
- Serves as your oral cavity roof
- Supports your upper dentition
What is the nasal crest?
- Nasal crest — midline ridge
- Located where left and right maxillae meet
- Provides attachment for vomer
- Contributes to your nasal septum
What are the incisive canals?
- Incisive canals — anterior passages
- Pass through palatine process
- Transmit nasopalatine nerves
- Transmit branches of greater palatine arteries
- Open inferiorly at incisive foramina
- Located posterior to your incisor teeth
What are the palatine grooves and spines?
- Inferior surface features:
- Palatine grooves
- Palatine spines
- Support your hard palate mucous membrane
ALVEOLAR PROCESS
Alveolar Process of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.
What is the alveolar process of the maxilla?
- Inferior portion of maxilla
- Contains dental alveoli
- Sockets for your upper teeth roots
- Essential for your tooth anchorage
- Important for your mastication and speech
What is the alveolar arch?
- Alveolar arch — curved free margin
- Follows your dental arcade contour
What are the interalveolar septa?
- Interalveolar septa — bony partitions
- Separate adjacent tooth sockets
What are the interradicular septa?
- Interradicular septa
- Present in multirooted teeth
- Divide alveoli further
- Provide additional root support
What are the alveolar yokes?
- Alveolar yokes — external prominences
- Correspond to your tooth root positions
- Contribute to your upper jaw contour
What are the incisive foramina?
- Incisive foramina — midline openings
- Located posterior to your incisors
- Important anatomical landmarks
- Transmit neurovascular structures to your anterior palate
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Henry G, Warren HL. Osteology. In: Anatomy of the Human Body. 20th ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1918. p. 129–97.