3D CONTENT
3D OSTEOLOGY
3D VISCEROCRANIUM

MAXILLA ANATOMY

Author: Dr. Bogdan Leahu
← Ethmoid Bone Vomer →
Maxilla anatomy 360-degree interactive viewer showing upper jaw, orbital surface, maxillary sinus, frontal process, zygomatic process, palatine process, and alveolar process
Get the Full 3D Experience

Maxilla - Disarticulated View, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

In-Depth AR Atlas Available

Read the comprehensive anatomy description with AR illustrations and videos

Read AR Atlas →

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

  • Key bone of the facial skeleton
  • Forms the upper jaw
  • Contributes to multiple anatomical regions:
    • Roof of the oral cavity
    • Orbital floor
    • Lateral and inferior walls of the nasal cavity
  • Articulations:
    • Frontal bone
    • Ethmoid bone
    • Nasal bone
    • Zygomatic bone
    • Lacrimal bone
    • Inferior nasal concha
    • Palatine bone
    • Vomer
    • Contralateral maxilla

STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS

Maxilla structural components 360-degree viewer showing central body and four projecting processes: zygomatic, frontal, alveolar, and palatine
Get the Full 3D Experience

Maxilla - Structural Segments, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

  • Central body
  • Four projecting processes:
    • Zygomatic process
    • Frontal process
    • Alveolar process
    • Palatine process

BODY OF THE MAXILLA

  • Central portion of the bone
  • Contains the maxillary sinus
    • Large pneumatic cavity
    • Reduces skull weight
    • Contributes to vocal resonance
  • Features four distinct surfaces:
    • Orbital surface
    • Anterior surface
    • Infratemporal surface
    • Nasal surface

Orbital Surface

Orbital surface of maxilla 360-degree viewer showing triangular floor of orbit with infraorbital groove, infraorbital canal, and infraorbital foramen
Get the Full 3D Experience

Orbital Surface of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

  • Superior aspect forming orbital floor
  • Smooth triangular configuration
  • Supports ocular structures
  • 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 facial surface
    • Provides innervation and blood supply to midface
  • Maxillary orbital margin
    • Forms inferior orbital rim
    • Separates orbital cavity from facial surface

Anterior Surface

Anterior surface of maxilla 360-degree viewer showing canine fossa, nasal notch, anterior nasal spine, and infraorbital foramen
Get the Full 3D Experience

Anterior Surface of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

  • Faces forward and slightly lateral
  • Canine fossa — depression on this surface
    • Located inferior to infra-orbital foramen
    • Positioned superior to canine tooth roots
  • Displays prominences corresponding to tooth roots
  • Nasal notch — deep concavity
    • Contributes to piriform aperture
    • Pear-shaped nasal opening
  • Anterior nasal spine
    • Formed by union of left and right maxillae
    • Located at inferior aspect of nasal notch
    • Sharp projection
    • Provides attachment for septal cartilage

Infratemporal Surface

Infratemporal surface of maxilla 360-degree viewer showing maxillary tuberosity, alveolar foramina, and posterior aspect contributing to infratemporal fossa
Get the Full 3D Experience

Infratemporal Surface of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

  • Posterior aspect
  • Contributes to infratemporal fossa
  • Contributes to pterygopalatine fossa
  • Maxillary tuberosity — rounded eminence
    • Located posterior to last molar
    • Serves as muscular attachment site
    • Important landmark in dental procedures
  • Alveolar foramina and canals
    • Transmit posterior superior alveolar nerves
    • Transmit posterior superior alveolar vessels
    • Supply molar teeth

Nasal Surface

Nasal surface of maxilla 360-degree viewer showing maxillary hiatus, lacrimal groove, conchal crest, and greater palatine groove
Get the Full 3D Experience

Nasal Surface of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

  • Medial aspect
  • Forms lateral nasal cavity wall
  • Lacrimal groove — deep channel
    • Combines with lacrimal bone
    • Forms nasolacrimal canal
    • Transmits nasolacrimal duct
    • Drains tears into nasal cavity
  • Conchal crest — bony ridge
    • Articulates with inferior nasal concha
    • Contributes to lateral nasal wall
  • Lacrimal margin
    • Articulates with lacrimal bone
    • Contributes to medial orbital wall
  • Maxillary hiatus — large irregular opening
    • Leads into maxillary sinus
    • Partially covered by adjacent bones in life
    • Covered by mucous membrane
    • Regulates sinus airflow and drainage
  • Greater palatine groove
    • Located near posterior border
    • Combines with palatine bone
    • Forms greater palatine canal
    • Transmits greater palatine nerve and vessels
    • Supplies hard palate

FRONTAL PROCESS

Frontal process of maxilla 360-degree viewer showing anterior lacrimal crest, lacrimal notch, and ethmoidal crest
Get the Full 3D Experience

Frontal Process of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

  • Upward projection from maxillary body
  • Articulates with frontal bone
  • Contributes to lateral nasal boundary
  • Contributes to medial orbital wall
  • Anterior lacrimal crest — vertical ridge
    • Provides attachment for lacrimal sac
    • Provides attachment for medial palpebral ligament
    • Important for lacrimal apparatus
  • Lacrimal notch — posterior indentation
    • Articulates with lacrimal bone
    • Completes lacrimal fossa
    • Houses lacrimal sac
  • Ethmoidal crest — oblique ridge
    • Located on frontal process
    • Articulates with middle nasal concha of ethmoid
    • Contributes to nasal cavity architecture

ZYGOMATIC PROCESS

Zygomatic process of maxilla 360-degree viewer showing lateral projection articulating with zygomatic bone and contributing to infraorbital rim
Get the Full 3D Experience

Zygomatic Process of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

  • Lateral projection from maxillary body
  • Articulates with zygomatic bone
  • Forms part of infraorbital rim
  • Contributes to cheek prominence
  • Maintains facial contour
  • Provides muscular attachment sites

PALATINE PROCESS

Palatine process of maxilla 360-degree viewer showing horizontal process forming hard palate with nasal crest and incisive canals
Get the Full 3D Experience

Palatine Process of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

  • Medial projection from maxillary body
  • Forms anterior three-quarters of hard palate
  • Separates oral and nasal cavities
  • Serves as nasal cavity floor
  • Serves as oral cavity roof
  • Supports upper dentition
  • Nasal crest — midline ridge
    • Located where left and right maxillae meet
    • Provides attachment for vomer
    • Contributes to nasal septum
  • 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 incisor teeth
  • Inferior surface features:
    • Palatine grooves
    • Palatine spines
    • Support hard palate mucous membrane

ALVEOLAR PROCESS

Alveolar process of maxilla 360-degree viewer showing dental alveoli, alveolar arch, interalveolar septa, and alveolar yokes
Get the Full 3D Experience

Alveolar Process of Maxilla, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

  • Inferior portion of maxilla
  • Contains dental alveoli
    • Sockets for upper teeth roots
  • Essential for tooth anchorage
  • Important for mastication and speech
  • Alveolar arch — curved free margin
    • Follows dental arcade contour
  • Interalveolar septa — bony partitions
    • Separate adjacent tooth sockets
  • Interradicular septa
    • Present in multirooted teeth
    • Divide alveoli further
    • Provide additional root support
  • Alveolar yokes — external prominences
    • Correspond to tooth root positions
    • Contribute to upper jaw contour
  • Incisive foramina — midline openings
    • Located posterior to incisors
    • Important anatomical landmarks
    • Transmit neurovascular structures to anterior palate

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Henry G, Warren HL. Osteology. In: Anatomy of the Human Body. 20th ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1918. p. 129–97.

QUICK FACTS: MAXILLA

Key questions answered about this anatomy topic

Q: What is the maxilla bone?

Answer: A paired bone forming the upper jaw and midface. The maxilla is a paired facial bone that forms the upper jaw, contributes to the midface structure, the floor of the orbit, the roof of the mouth (hard palate), and the lateral walls of the nasal cavity.

Q: Where is the maxilla bone located?

Answer: In the midface, forming the upper jaw below the orbit. The maxilla is located in the midface region, forming the upper jaw. It sits below the orbits, lateral to the nasal cavity, and above the oral cavity.

Q: Is the maxilla a facial bone or a cranial bone?

Answer: Facial bone (viscerocranium). The maxilla is classified as a facial bone (viscerocranium). It is one of the largest facial bones and contributes significantly to the structure of the midface.

Q: What type of bone is the maxilla classified as?

Answer: Irregular bone. The maxilla is classified as an irregular bone due to its complex shape with multiple processes, surfaces, and the large maxillary sinus cavity within its body.

Q: What is the main function of the maxilla?

Answer: Forms upper jaw, holds upper teeth, contributes to orbit floor and hard palate. The maxilla has multiple functions: it forms the upper jaw and holds the upper teeth, contributes to the floor of the orbit, forms the anterior three-quarters of the hard palate, and helps shape the nasal cavity.

Want to test yourself? Try the interactive quiz above!

⋮⋮ Maxilla Quiz
Loading... Score: 0