Maxilla

The upper jaw ( maxilla Latin ) is a paired bone of the facial skeleton. It forms the floor of the eye socket (orbit ), the bottom and the side wall of the nasal cavity ( cavum nasi) and a portion of the palate and so that the roof of the oral cavity ( cavum oris proprium ). The upper jaw contains the maxillary sinus ( maxillary sinus ).

Surfaces

At the maxillary body can be distinguished four faces: the face surface (facies anterior) located in front of the upper jaw body. The lower temple area (facies infratemporalis ) includes rearward of the face surface and is separated from the lower bar toward the cheekbone area of ​​the face. The orbital surface (facies orbital ) forms the largest part of the orbital floor. The nose surface (facies nasalis ) forms the lateral wall of the nasal cavity.

Projections and openings

The frontal process ( processus frontalis) is the link between nasal bone, lacrimal bone and the frontal bone. The zygomatic process ( processus zygomaticus ) is triangular in shape and is located below the orbital plane. The alveolar ( alveolar process ) carries the teeth and is correspondingly curved. The palatine process ( palatine process ) is a horizontal plate located between the nose area and the alveolar process.

In animals the maxillary body has a more or less pronounced bony ridge, the facial crest. It is particularly striking in horses and palpable through the skin. The facial crest is the upper edge of the origin of the masseter muscle.

Through the maxillary nerve pulls the infraorbital ( branch of the maxillary nerve of the trigeminal nerve ) innervate these bones including all maxillary teeth. It occurs below the infra-orbital eye socket from the upper jaw to the surface at the foramen. In addition, other branches of the maxillary nerve involved in the innervation of the palate.

Blood supply

The blood supply is provided by the maxillary artery.

Bony palate

The bony palate ( palate ossium ) consists of the alveolar process of the maxilla and the palatine bone. Three sutures form the boundary of the individual parts:

The mean palatal ( midpalatal suture ) runs from the incisor foramen to the posterior nasal spine. The transverse palatal suture ( cruciate suture ) crosses the mid-palate back seam between the first and second molar. The premaxillary suture ( suture incisiva ) combines the inter-maxillary bone ( premaxilla ) with the maxillary bone.

The holes in the bony palate are nerves and blood vessels that supply the palatal mucosa for passage.