Maxilla

Maxilla AR Atlas

The Maxilla articulates with:

• The Frontal bone
• The Ethmoid bone
• The Nasal bone
• The Zygomatic
• The Lacrimal
• The Inferior Nasal Concha
• The Palatine
• The Vomer
• The Maxilla

• Maxilla: The maxilla is a prominent paired bone of the face. It consists of a body and four processes: The Zygomatic process, The Frontal process, The Alveolar process, and the Palatine process (1)

Body of maxilla

• Body of maxilla: The body of the maxilla is the central part of the bone. It has four surfaces and encloses a large cavity, the maxillary sinus. (1)
• Orbital surface of maxilla: The orbital surface of the maxilla is the superior surface of the maxilla and takes part in forming the orbit floor. (1)
  • Infra-orbital canal: The infra-orbital canal is a tunnel that starts on the orbit floor and opens on the anterior surface, just above the canine fossa. (1)
  • Infra-orbital groove: The infra-orbital groove is located in the mid-posterior part of the orbital surface of the maxilla. It begins at the posterior border and continues with the infraorbital canal. (1)
• Maxillary part of orbital margin: The orbital margin of the maxillary part is the margin located anterior to the orbital surface. It takes part in the formation of the inferior margin of the orbit. (1)

• Anterior surface of maxilla: The anterior surface of the maxilla is oriented anterolaterally. Its inferior part presents multiple prominences corresponding to the teeth’s roots. (1)
  • Infra-orbital foramen: The infra-orbital foramen is a foramen that is located on the anterior surface of the maxilla. It is the opening of the infraorbital canal (1)
  • Canine fossa: The canine fossa is a depression that is located on the anterior surface of the maxilla (1)
  • Nasal notch: The nasal notch is the deep concavity that takes part in forming the piriform aperture. (1)
  • Anterior nasal spine: The anterior nasal spine is a sharp bony projection that is located at the inferior end of the nasal notch. It results from the articulation of the maxilla with the opposing maxilla. (1)

• Infratemporal surface of maxilla: The infratemporal surface of the maxilla is oriented posterolaterally and forms the infratemporal surface. (1)
  • Alveolar foramina: The alveolar foramina are openings located in the centre of the infratemporal surface of the maxilla. They give passage to alveolar vessels and nerves. (1)
  • Alveolar canals: The alveolar canals are located on the maxilla’s infratemporal surface. They give passage to alveolar vessels and nerves. (1)
  • Maxillary tuberosity: The maxillary tuberosity is a round prominence located on the inferior part of the infratemporal surface of the maxilla. (1)

• Nasal surface of maxilla: The maxilla’s nasal surface is the bone’s medial surface. It takes part in forming the lateral wall of the nasal cavity. (1)
  • Lacrimal groove of maxilla: The lacrimal groove of the maxilla is a deep groove located anterior to the hiatus of the maxilla and posterior to the anterior lacrimal crest. It takes part in the formation of the nasolacrimal canal (1,21)
    • Conchal crest of maxilla: The maxilla’s conchal crest is a ridge in the anterior region of the nasal surface. In the articulated skull, it articulates with the inferior nasal concha. (1)
    • Lacrimal margin of maxilla: The lacrimal margin of the maxilla is the border that articulates with the lacrimal bone in the articulated skull. (1)
    • Hiatus of maxilla: The hiatus of the maxilla is the opening of the sinus of the maxilla. It is large and irregular. (1)
• Greater palatine groove of maxilla: The greater palatine groove of maxilla is an obliquely orientated groove located near the posterior border. In the articulated skull, it takes part in the formation of the pterygopalatine canal. (1)
• Sinus of maxilla: The sinus of the maxilla is a large cavity that is enclosed in the body of the maxilla (1)

Frontal process of the maxilla

• Frontal process of maxilla: The frontal process of the maxilla is an upward-projecting process that takes part in forming the lateral boundary. (1)
• Anterior lacrimal crest: The anterior lacrimal crest is a vertically oriented ridge on the frontal process of the maxilla that continues the orbital margin. (1)
• Lacrimal notch: The lacrimal notch is situated posterior to the frontal process. It articulates with the lacrimal hamulus. (1)
• Ethmoidal crest of maxilla: The ethmoidal crest is an obliquely oriented ridge situated on the maxilla’s frontal process above the conchal crest. It articulates with the ethmoid. (1)

Zygomatic process of maxilla

• Zygomatic process of maxilla: The zygomatic process of maxilla is the laterally oriented process, that articulates with the zygomatic bone. (1)

Palatine process

• Palatine process: The palatine process of the maxilla is the medially oriented process that takes part in the formation of the hard palate. (1)
• Nasal crest of maxilla: The nasal crest of the maxilla is a bony crest resulting from the maxilla’s articulation with the opposite maxilla. It is situated on the midline of the upper surface of the palatine process. (1)
• Incisive canals: The incisive canals are at the anterior end of the medial border. In the articulated skull, they open at their superior end as two canals and at the inferior end as the incisive foramina. (20)
• Palatine spines: The palatine spines are prominences located between the grooves. (1)
• Palatine grooves: The palatine grooves are grooves that are located on the inferior surface of the Palatine process of the maxilla. (1)

Alveolar process

• Alveolar process: The alveolar process is oriented inferiorly, and it presents numerous cavities for the reception of the roots of the teeth. (1)
• Alveolar arch of maxilla: The alveolar arch of the maxilla is the inferior free margin of the alveolar process (1)
• Dental alveoli of maxilla: The dental alveoli are eight cavities that bear the teeth. Their dimensions and structure vary. (1)
• Interalveolar septa of maxilla: The interalveolar septa are bony prominences interposed between the alveoli. (1)
• Interradicular septa of maxilla: The Interradicular septa of the maxilla refer to bony ridges that form compartments within the sockets of multirooted teeth. (26)
• Alveolar yokes of maxilla: The alveolar yokes of the maxilla are bony prominences that are found on the lateral surface of the alveolar process. They represent the eminences produced by the roots of the teeth. (1)
• Incisive foramina: The incisive foramina are present in the articulated skull on the midline just posterior to the incisors. (1)

Bibliography

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The structure and organization of anatomical terms used in this text follow the guidelines provided by FIPAT (2019) in their publication: FIPAT. (2019). Terminologia Anatomica (2nd ed.). FIPAT.library.dal.ca. Federative International Programme for Anatomical Terminology. Retrieved May 7, 2023, from https://fipat.library.dal.ca/TA2/