The body of the maxilla ('corpus maxillae') is somewhat pyramidal in shape, and contains a large cavity, the maxillary sinus (antrum of Highmore). It has four surfaces - an anterior, a posterior or infratemporal, a superior or orbital, and a medial or nasal. The maxillary sinus is the largest paranasal sinus. ...

Anterior surface

Figure 1: Left maxilla. Outer surface.

The anterior surface [Fig. 1] is directed forward and lateralward. It presents at its lower part a series of eminences corresponding to the positions of the roots of the teeth. Just above those of the incisor teeth is a depression, the incisive fossa, which gives origin to the Depressor alae nasi; to the alveolar border below the fossa is attached a slip of the Orbicularis oris; above and a little lateral to it, the Nasalis arises. File links The following pages link to this file: Maxilla Wikipedia:Grays Anatomy images with missing articles 4 Categories: Public domain images ... File links The following pages link to this file: Maxilla Wikipedia:Grays Anatomy images with missing articles 4 Categories: Public domain images ... On the anterior surface of the maxilla, just above the eminences corresponding to the incisor teeth is a depression, the incisive fossa, which gives origin to the Depressor alæ nasi; to the alveolar border below the fossa is attached a slip of the Orbicularis oris; above and a little lateral... The orbicularis oris is the sphincter muscle around the mouth. ... The Nasalis (Compressor naris) is a sphincter-like muscle of the nose whose function is to compress the nasal cartilege. ...

Lateral to the incisive fossa is another depression, the canine fossa; it is larger and deeper than the incisive fossa, and is separated from it by a vertical ridge, the canine eminence, corresponding to the socket of the canine tooth; the canine fossa gives origin to the levator anguli oris (aka Caninus). Lateral to the incisive fossa is another depression, the canine fossa; it is larger and deeper than the incisive fossa, and is separated from it by a vertical ridge, the canine eminence, corresponding to the socket of the canine tooth; the canine fossa gives origin to the Caninus. ... The Levator anguli oris is a muscle of the human body. ...

Above the fossa is the infraorbital foramen, the end of the infraorbital canal; it transmits the infraorbital vessels and nerve. Above the canine fossa is the infraorbital foramen, the end of the infraorbital canal; it transmits the infraorbital vessels and nerve. ...

Above the foramen is the margin of the orbit, which affords attachment to part of the Quadratus labii superioris.

Medially, the anterior surface is limited by a deep concavity, the nasal notch, the margin of which gives attachment to the Dilatator naris posterior and ends below in a pointed process, which with its fellow of the opposite side forms the anterior nasal spine. The Nasalis (Compressor naris) is a sphincter-like muscle of the nose whose function is to compress the nasal cartilege. ...

Infratemporal surface

The infratemporal surface [Fig. 1] is convex, directed backward and lateralward, and forms part of the infratemporal fossa. The infratemporal fossa is an irregularly shaped cavity, situated below and medial to the zygomatic arch. ...

It is separated from the anterior surface by the zygomatic process and by a strong ridge, extending upward from the socket of the first molar tooth. It is pierced about its center by the apertures of the alveolar canals, which transmit the posterior superior alveolar vessels and nerves. This does not cite its references or sources. ... The Posterior Superior Alveolar Artery (alveolar or posterior dental artery) is given off from the internal maxillary, frequently in conjunction with the infraorbital just as the trunk of the vessel is passing into the pterygopalatine fossa. ... The Posterior Superior Alveolar Branches (posterior superior dental branches) arise from the trunk of the maxillary nerve just before it enters the infraorbital groove; they are generally two in number, but sometimes arise by a single trunk. ...

At the lower part of this surface is a rounded eminence, the maxillary tuberosity, especially prominent after the growth of the wisdom tooth; it is rough on its lateral side for articulation with the pyramidal process of the palatine bone and in some cases articulates with the lateral pterygoid plate of the sphenoid. Wisdom teeth are third molars that usually appear between the ages of 18 and 20 (although they may appear when older, or fail to appear at all). ... The palatine bone is a bone situated at the back part of the nasal cavity between the maxilla and the pterygoid process of the sphenoid. ... The sphenoid bone (os sphenoidale) is a bone situated at the base of the skull in front of the temporals and basilar part of the occipital. ...

It gives origin to a few fibers of the internal pterygoid muscle (aka Pterygoideus internus). Immediately above this is a smooth surface, which forms the anterior boundary of the pterygopalatine fossa, and presents a groove, for the maxillary nerve; this groove is directed lateralward and slightly upward, and is continuous with the infraorbital groove on the orbital surface. In the skull, the pterygopalatine fossa is the space between the lateral pterygoid plate (which is part of the sphenoid bone), and the palate. ... The Maxillary nerve is one of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve, one of the cranial nerves. ...

Orbital surface

The orbital surface [Fig. 1] is smooth and triangular, and forms the greater part of the floor of the orbit.

It is bounded medially by an irregular margin which in front presents a notch, the lacrimal notch; behind this notch the margin articulates with the lacrimal, the lamina papyracea of the ethmoid and the orbital process of the palatine. The orbital process of the palatine bone is placed on a higher level than the sphenoidal, and is directed upward and lateralward from the front of the vertical part, to which it is connected by a constricted neck. ...

It is bounded behind by a smooth rounded edge which forms the anterior margin of the inferior orbital fissure, and sometimes articulates at its lateral extremity with the orbital surface of the great wing of the sphenoid. The lateral wall and the floor of the orbit are separated posteriorly by the inferior orbital fissure which transmits the maxillary nerve and its zygomatic branch, the infraorbital vessels, and the ascending branches from the sphenopalatine ganglion. ...

It is limited in front by part of the circumference of the orbit, which is continuous medially with the frontal process, and laterally with the zygomatic process. The zygomatic process of the maxilla (malar process) is a rough triangular eminence, situated at the angle of separation of the anterior, zygomatic, and orbital surfaces. ...

Near the middle of the posterior part of the orbital surface is the infraorbital groove, for the passage of the infraorbital vessels and nerve. The groove begins at the middle of the posterior border, where it is continuous with that near the upper edge of the infratemporal surface, and, passing forward, ends in a canal, which subdivides into two branches. Near the middle of the posterior part of the orbital surface of the maxilla is the infraorbital groove (or sulcus), for the passage of the infraorbital vessels and nerve. ... The Infraorbital Artery appears, from its direction, to be the continuation of the trunk of the internal maxillary, but often arises in conjunction with the posterior superior alveolar. ... After the maxillary nerve enters the infraorbital canal, the nerve is frequently called the infraorbital nerve. ...

One of the canals, the infraorbital canal, opens just below the margin of the orbit; the other, which is smaller, runs downward in the substance of the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus, and transmits the anterior superior alveolar vessels and nerve to the front teeth of the maxilla. One of the canals of the orbital surface of the maxilla, the infraorbital canal, opens just below the margin of the orbit. ... The Anterior Superior Alveolar Branch (anterior superior dental branch), of considerable size, is given off from the nerve just before its exit from the infraorbital foramen; it descends in a canal in the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus, and divides into branches which supply the incisor and canine teeth. ...

From the back part of the infraorbital canal, a second small canal is sometimes given off; it runs downward in the lateral wall of the sinus, and conveys the middle alveolar nerve to the premolar teeth. The maxillary sinus is the largest paranasal sinus. ... The middle superior alveolar nerve is a nerve that drops from the infraorbital portion of the maxillary nerve to supply the sinus mucosa, the roots of the maxillary premolars, and the mesiobuccal root of the first molar. ... The premolar teeth or bicuspids are transitional teeth located between the canine and molar teeth. ...

At the medial and forepart of the orbital surface just lateral to the lacrimal groove, is a depression, which gives origin to the Obliquus oculi inferior.

Nasal surface

Figure 2: Left maxilla. Nasal surface.

The nasal surface [Fig. 2] presents a large, irregular opening leading into the maxillary sinus. At the upper border of this aperture are some broken air cells, which, in the articulated skull, are closed in by the ethmoid and lacrimal bones. File links The following pages link to this file: Maxilla Wikipedia:Grays Anatomy images with missing articles 4 Categories: Public domain images ... File links The following pages link to this file: Maxilla Wikipedia:Grays Anatomy images with missing articles 4 Categories: Public domain images ... Your skull is in your back (this is obviously not true, I was just testing the website to see if it really works) The ethmoid bone (os ethmoidale) is a bone in the skull that separates the nasal cavity from the brain. ... The lacrimal bone (Os Lacrimale), the smallest and most fragile bone of the face, is situated at the front part of the medial wall of the orbit . ...

Below the aperture is a smooth concavity which forms part of the inferior meatus of the nasal cavity, and behind it is a rough surface for articulation with the perpendicular part of the palatine bone; this surface is traversed by a groove, commencing near the middle of the posterior border and running obliquely downward and forward; the groove is converted into a canal, the pterygopalatine canal, by the palatine bone. The nasal cavity (or nasal fossa) is a large air-filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face. ... The vertical part (perpendicular plate) of the palatine bone is thin, of an oblong form, and presents two surfaces and four borders. ... On the posterior part of the maxillary surface of the palatine bone is a deep vertical groove, converted into the pterygopalatine canal, by articulation with the maxilla; this canal transmits the descending palatine vessels, and the anterior palatine nerve. ... The palatine bone is a bone situated at the back part of the nasal cavity between the maxilla and the pterygoid process of the sphenoid. ...

In front of the opening of the sinus is a deep groove, the lacrimal groove, which is converted into the nasolacrimal canal, by the lacrimal bone and inferior nasal concha; this canal opens into the inferior meatus of the nose and transmits the nasolacrimal duct. More anteriorly is an oblique ridge, the conchal crest, for articulation with the inferior nasal concha. The inferior nasal concha (Concha Nasalis Inferior; Inferior Turbinated Bone) extends horizontally along the lateral wall of the nasal cavity [Fig. ... The nasolacrimal duct carries tears from the lacrimal sac into the nasal cavity. ... The inferior nasal concha (Concha Nasalis Inferior; Inferior Turbinated Bone) extends horizontally along the lateral wall of the nasal cavity [Fig. ...

The shallow concavity above this ridge forms part of the atrium of the middle meatus of the nose, and that below it, part of the inferior meatus.