Maxilla

Function

Carries the upper teeth, forms the floor of the orbit, the roof of the mouth and most of the hard palate, and houses the largest paranasal sinus. It transmits the infraorbital nerve to the midface skin.

Landmarks

• Body with maxillary sinus
• Alveolar process
• Palatine process
• Frontal process
• Infraorbital foramen
• Canine fossa

Articulations (joints)

• Right maxilla
• Frontal bone
• Nasal bone
• Lacrimal bone
• Ethmoid bone
• Zygomatic bone
• Palatine bone
• Vomer
• Inferior nasal concha
• Upper teeth

Clinical relevance

Le Fort I fractures separate the tooth-bearing maxilla horizontally from the midface; Le Fort III separates the whole midface from the skull base. The maxillary sinus is the commonest site of sinusitis and the classic 'antrum' tapped in Caldwell-Luc procedures.