Let us examine the maxilla. It is a paired bone of the facial skeleton.

It has the following parts:

• body (corpus maxillae)

  

• frontal process (processus frontalis)

• zygomatic process (processus zygomaticus)

  

• alveolar process (processus alveolaris)

  

• palatine process (processus palatinus)

  

  The body of the maxilla has four surfaces:

• anterior surface (facies anterior)

  

• orbital surface (facies orbitalis)

  

• infratemporal surface (facies infratemporalis)

  

• nasal surface (facies nasalis)

The anterior surface is separated from the orbital surface by the infraorbital margin (margo infraorbitalis).

Underneath lies the infraorbital foramen (foramen infraorbitale), here passes the infraorbital nerve.

Under this foramen lies the canine fossa (fossa canina).

On the medial side, the anterior surface is bounded by the nasal notch (incisura nasalis).

The inferior border of the nasal notch protrudes slightly forward and is called the anterior nasal spine (spina nasalis anterior).

The orbital surface forms the floor of the orbit.

At the posterior border of this surface opens the infraorbital groove (sulcus infraorbitalis).

In the front, it passes into the infraorbital canal (canalis infraorbitalis)

, which opens on the anterior surface with the already mentioned infraorbital foramen.

The infratemporal surface is involved in the formation of the pterygopalatine fossa and the infratemporal fossa.

A rather large maxillary tuberosity (tuber maxillae) is located here.

It has several small alveolar foramina (foramina alveolaria), which continue into the alveolar canals (canales alveolares). Through these pass nerves and vessels to the teeth of the maxilla.

Medially runs the greater palatine groove (sulcus palatinus major), which is a component of the greater palatine canal.

The nasal surface is involved in the formation of the lateral wall of the nasal cavity.

This is where the maxillary hiatus (hiatus maxillaris) is to be found.

It leads to the maxillary sinus (sinus maxillaris), which is one of the pneumatized cavities of the cranium. This sinus has a connection to the middle nasal meatus.

In front of the maxillary hiatus is the lacrimal groove (sulcus lacrimalis). It is involved in the formation of the nasolacrimal duct. There is a lacrimal notch (incisura lacrimalis) at the entrance to this canal.

Ahead of the lacrimal groove is the conchal crest (crista conchalis), to which the inferior nasal concha is connected.

On the lateral surface of the frontal process, there is the anterior lacrimal crest (crista lacrimalis anterior).

And on the medial surface of this process is the ethmoidal crest (crista ethmoidalis), which is connected to the ethmoidal bone.

The inferior part of the alveolar process is called the alveolar arch (arcus alveolaris).

It has dental alveoli (alveoli dentales) where the teeth are located.

The alveoli are separated by interalveolar septa (septa interalveolaria).

Furthermore, on the external surface of the alveolar process are alveolar yokes (juga alveolaria).

In the incisor tooth, the canine eminence (eminentia canina) is pronounced.

The palatine process is involved in the formation of the hard palate and the floor of the nasal cavity.

There is a nasal crest (crista nasalis) on the medial border of the process.

The two palatine processes are fused together to form the median palatine suture (sutura palatina mediana).

The anterior part of this suture has an incisive foramen (foramen incisivum) leading to the incisive canal (canalis incisivus), where the nasopalatine nerve passes.

The inferior surface of the palatine process is rough and contains palatine grooves (sulci palatini), where vessels and nerves pass.

Along these grooves run the palatine spines (spinae palatinae).

Dictionary

Maxilla

maxilla

maxilla

body of maxilla

corpus maxillae

frontal process

processus frontalis

zygomatic process

processus zygomaticus

alveolar process

processus alveolaris

palatine process

processus palatinus

anterior surface

facies anterior

orbital surface

facies orbitalis

infratemporal surface

facies infratemporalis

nasal surface

facies nasalis

infraorbital margin

margo infraorbitalis

infraorbital foramen

foramen infraorbitale

canine fossa

fossa canina

nasal notch

incisura nasalis

anterior nasal spine

spina nasalis anterior

infraorbital groove

sulcus infraorbitalis

infraorbital canal

canalis infraorbitalis

maxillary tuberosity

tuber maxillae

alveolar foramina

foramina alveolaria

alveolar canals

canales alveolares

greater palatine groove

sulcus palatinus major

maxillary hiatus

hiatus maxillaris

maxillary sinus

sinus maxillaris

lacrimal groove

sulcus lacrimalis

lacrimal notch

incisura lacrimalis

conchal crest

crista conchalis

anterior lacrimal crest

crista lacrimalis anterior

ethmoidal crest

crista ethmoidalis

alveolar arch

arcus alveolaris

dental alveoli

alveoli dentales

interalveolar septa

septa interalveolaria

alveolar yokes

juga alveolaria

canine eminence

eminentia canina

nasal crest

crista nasalis

median palatine suture

sutura palatina mediana

incisive foramen

foramen incisivum

incisive canal

canalis incisivus

palatine grooves

sulci palatini

palatine spines

spinae palatinae