Maxilla Flashcards

Explore the maxilla's body, four processes, maxillary sinus, orbital relationships, tooth-bearing structures, foramina, and muscle attachments.

Card 1 of 30Question

What is the maxilla?

A paired facial bone forming the upper jaw and contributing to the orbit, nasal cavity, and hard palate.

In This Section

1. What is the maxilla?

A paired facial bone forming the upper jaw and contributing to the orbit, nasal cavity, and hard palate.

2. What are the main anatomical components of each maxilla?

A body and four processes: frontal, zygomatic, alveolar, and palatine.

3. What are the four surfaces of the maxillary body?

The anterior, orbital, infratemporal, and nasal surfaces.

4. Which air-filled cavity occupies most of the maxillary body?

The maxillary sinus, the largest of the paranasal sinuses.

5. Which part of the maxilla contributes to the floor of the orbit?

The orbital surface of the maxillary body.

6. What is the frontal process of the maxilla?

A superior projection that articulates with the frontal, nasal, and lacrimal bones.

7. What is the zygomatic process of the maxilla?

A lateral projection that articulates with the zygomatic bone.

8. What is the alveolar process of the maxilla?

The inferior tooth-bearing portion containing the alveoli for the maxillary teeth.

9. Which parts of the maxilla form the anterior three-fourths of the hard palate?

The palatine processes of the right and left maxillae.

10. Which suture joins the palatine processes of the two maxillae?

The median palatine suture.

11. What is the incisive canal?

A bony passage in the anterior hard palate transmitting nasopalatine nerves and associated vessels.

12. Where is the infraorbital foramen located?

On the anterior surface of the maxilla, inferior to the infraorbital margin.

13. Which structures pass through the infraorbital foramen?

The infraorbital nerve, artery, and vein.

14. What is the course of the infraorbital canal?

It runs anteriorly through the orbital floor from the infraorbital groove to the infraorbital foramen.

15. What is the canine fossa?

A depression on the anterior maxillary surface inferior to the infraorbital foramen.

16. What is the anterior nasal spine?

A midline bony projection formed by the maxillae at the inferior margin of the piriform aperture.

17. What is the maxillary tuberosity?

A rounded projection on the posterior maxillary surface, behind the last molar tooth.

18. Which nerves enter the posterior superior alveolar foramina?

The posterior superior alveolar nerves, branches of the maxillary nerve (V2).

19. Which facial muscle originates from the canine fossa of the maxilla?

The levator anguli oris muscle.

20. Which muscle originates from the infraorbital margin of the maxilla?

The levator labii superioris muscle.

21. Which bones articulate with the maxilla?

The frontal, ethmoid, nasal, lacrimal, zygomatic, palatine, inferior nasal concha, vomer, and opposite maxilla.

22. Which bones form the lacrimal sac fossa?

The frontal process of the maxilla and the lacrimal bone.

23. Where does the maxillary sinus drain?

Into the middle nasal meatus, usually through the hiatus semilunaris region.

24. Why is drainage from the maxillary sinus relatively inefficient in the upright position?

Its natural opening is located high on the medial wall, above much of the sinus cavity.

25. Which nerve provides sensory innervation to the maxillary sinus mucosa?

The superior alveolar nerves, branches of the maxillary nerve (V2).

26. Which arteries supply the maxillary sinus?

Primarily branches of the infraorbital and superior alveolar arteries.

27. How does the maxilla primarily develop embryologically?

Through intramembranous ossification of first pharyngeal arch-derived mesenchyme.

28. What is the anatomical relationship between the maxillary sinus floor and posterior maxillary teeth?

The roots of premolars and molars may lie close to or project toward the sinus floor.

29. Why can an orbital floor fracture cause numbness of the cheek and upper lip?

The fracture may injure the infraorbital nerve within its groove or canal.

30. What is an oroantral communication?

An abnormal opening between the oral cavity and maxillary sinus, sometimes following extraction of a posterior maxillary tooth.