Maxillary bone

Maxillary bone is one of the two maxillae bones that form the upper jaw. This bone plays a crucial role in the structure of the face, providing support for the eye socket and containing the upper teeth. The maxillary bone is also involved in forming the boundaries of three cavities: the mouth, the nose, and the eye socket.

Structure

The maxillary bone is a paired bone with left and right maxillae. Each maxilla has four processes (frontal, zygomatic, alveolar, and palatine) and several cavities and openings. The maxillary bone is connected to many other bones of the skull.

Processes

• Frontal process: This process is a strong plate of bone that projects upward, backward, and lateralward.
• Zygomatic process: This process is a rough triangular eminence, situated at the angle of separation of the frontal and alveolar processes.
• Alveolar process: This process contains the sockets for the upper teeth.
• Palatine process: This process is a horizontal plate of bone that forms the majority of the hard palate.

Function

The maxillary bone serves several functions. It supports the upper teeth and is involved in the formation of the orbit, nose, and palate. It also contains the maxillary sinus.

Clinical significance

Injuries or diseases affecting the maxillary bone can have significant implications for a person's ability to eat, speak, and breathe. Conditions that can affect the maxillary bone include fractures, cancer, and infections.

See also

• Mandible
• Zygomatic bone
• Palatine bone
• Human skull

Maxillary bone Resources
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References

External links

• Maxilla at Encyclopædia Britannica
• Maxillary Bone at Healthline

Further reading

• Gray, Henry. Anatomy of the Human Body. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1918; Bartleby.com, 2000. www.bartleby.com/107/.
• Moore, Keith L.; Dalley, Arthur F.; Agur, Anne M. R. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2013.